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HISTORY 



OF 



KENT, CONNECTICUT. 



INCLUDING 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF ITS 
PRESENT OR FORMER INHABITANTS. ' 



1897. 



FRANCIS ATWATER. 



ILLUSTRATED, PRINTED AND BOUND BY 

THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO., 

MERIDEN, CONN. 

1897. 



96?1 




PREFACE. 



The importance of having town histories is manifest in these days when 
nearly every one is tracing out who their ancestors were, and the part they 
may have taken in revolutionary times. What would have been an easy 
thing to have done in those early days when the facts were fresh upon every 
body's tongue can only be imperfectly told now and must of necessity be 
more or less conjectured. The author has thoroughly scanned the records 
of the town of Kent and from them and many other sources at his command 
presents this volume to the public to preserve the details that can now be 
had and which later may be lost forever. No more fascinating work can be 
found than delving into the musty books that the pioneers kept of their 
doings in the establishment of the early New England townships. The 
records of Kent were found well preserved but the importance of having 
them well bound and all the loose sheets securely sewed in does not seem to 
have occurred to the authorities who have them in charge. This is a neglect 
that is prevalent with many towns, and the writer is of the opinion that 
there should be a state inspector whose business it should be to see that 
these old records are put in good condition, and if nearly illegible, to have 

them copied. 

The prosperity of the town of Kent was checked with the advent of the 
railroad. It was once a flourishing community when every night twenty- 
one two and four horse teams could be seen entering the town from the 
direction of Quaker hill loaded with iron ore to be cast into pigs and then 
hauled thirty miles to Poughkeepsie to market. The crack of the whips of 
so many drivers is gone and the charm of the town now lies in its quietness 

and solitude. 

Is the town of Kent of sufficient importance to justify the writing of its 

history ? 

To the native of the town, him who breathed first its air, whose eyes 
looked first on its hills and valleys, whose earliest years were passed amid 
its scenes, the response of affection is sufficient answer to this inquiry. For 
there is no place to the loving heart like home, and no homes like the first 
home. As such a heart sings in the old poem, that will never lose its charm 
till human nature icself is changed: 



4 PREFACE. 

"How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, 
When fond recollection presents them to view." 

Nor is this the dictate of affection alone. It is the sentiment of patriot- 
ism as well. As says Chief Justice Church, in his centennial address at Sal- 
isbury: "To commemmorate the birth- day, and perpetuate the annals of a 
retired New England town, may seem to some a trifling affair, but there is 
nothing dearer to a man of sensibility, than his home. Here is the only 
true source of patriotism; and the man who loves not to indulge in the rec- 
ollections of the home of his youth, is constituted of such materials as 
traitors are made of." 

But there is a wider than local and personal interest in such history. It 
is the key to the broader history of the country, and, so far as the influence 
of our country extends, of the world. For the model on which these broad- 
er institutions were framed, is the New England town. As President Gar- 
field, speaking of "The germ of our institutions," says: — "The germ of our 
political institutions, the primary cell from which they were evolved, was in 
the New England town; and the vital force, the informing soul of the town, 
was the town meeting, which for all local concerns, was king, lords and com- 
mons in one." The town is the unit in the New England system; and 
since the New England system is that of the nation, the New England town 
is the germ and genesis of the American system. The larger organizations 
of the state and nation, are but developments of the New England town 
system. This, the history of our institutions abundantly proves; especial- 
ly that of the Connecticut towns. The earliest organizations of our com- 
monwealth were towns, and these were the first truly free republics in the 
history of the world. The earliest free constitution known to history, wa.s 
the agreement entered into by the three towns of Hartford, Wethersfield 
and Windsor in 1639; and this was the grand and noble model of the 
constitution of the United States when the thirteen colonies a hundred and 
forty-eight years later, formed the wider confederation known as the nation. 
Bryant, in his "History of the United States," speaking of this constitution, 
says: — The colony (of Connecticut) thus founded a christian commonwealth, 
and a purely democratic republic upon the first written constitution of any 
state in America, if not indeed in the world." If the world ever knew an 
earlier one, it has not come down to us. Of this first constitution of the 
three earliest towns of Connecticut, Bancroft, the historian, says: 'Nearly 
two centuries have elapsed; the world has been made wiser by various ex- 
perience, political institutions have become the theme on which the most 
powerful and cultivated minds have been employed; dynasties of kings have 
been dethroned, recalled, dethroned again; and so many constitutions have 
been framed or reformed, stifled or subverted, that memory may despair of 
a complete catalogue; but the people of Connecticut have found no reason 



PREFACE. 5 

to deviate essentially from the government established by their fathers/' 
This early constitution of the Connecticut towns was the earliest recogni- 
tion in the political history of the world, of the people as "The Supreme 
Power of the Commonwealth." Although a colony of the British Crown at 
the time, no reference is made in it to the king, any more than as though 
there were not a king on the globe, nor to any source of power whatever, 
other than the freemen of the towns, expressing their will by their own free 
elections. Thus in Connecticut towns originated the free institutions of the 
modern world. 

The author is indebted to Mr. J. A. Bolles of the New Milford Gazette 
and the late Rev. B. B. Hillard of Plymouth for considerable of the ma- 
terial herein printed and to Mr. Jerome Judd of Kent for the work of mak- 
ing the History a financial success. 




KENT FALLS. 



CHAPTER I. 



PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT. 



KENT ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO THE TERRITORY CONVEYED TO THE TOWNS OF HART- 
FORD AND WINDSOR IN l686-'7. — THE COST DID NOT EXCEED A PENNY AND THREE 
FARTHINGS PER ACRE. — PRIMITIVE WILDERNESS AT THE TIME. 

The period of the settlement of Kent was that of Connecticut's first at- 
tack of the western fever, and this is how it was brought on. As has been 
said, but little value was attached to the teritory of Litchfield county, before 
the beginning of the last century. There was land enough nearer the center 
of the colony, and the population was still too limited for the peopling of new 
towns. But after the reinstatement of the colonial charter in 1694, and 
the consequent restored security of the colony, enterprise, which had lan- 
guished during the reign of James, revived, the population of the colony in- 
creased, and inquiry began tO' be made for territory for new settlements. The 
earliest response to this demand, in this section of the state, was the ex- 
ploration and sale of the territory of the town of Litchfield. This territory 
was included in the "Western Lands" conveyed by the colony to the towns 
of Hartford and Windsor in 1686-7, and the sale of it was the lirst disposal 
of that territory which the towns had made. In the spring of 1715, a com- 
mittee of these towns, of whom John Marsh, the ancestor of the Marshes of 
Litchfield, was one, and the seeming chief, visited the region, "viewed" it, 
and secured deeds of it from the Indians; their bills for service, against the 
towns, giving intimation of the primitive wildness of the region, as by the 
following items from the Hartford records: — 

"The town of Hartford Dr. 

To John Marsh, May 1715. 
For 5 days man and horse, with expenses in viewing the land at the new 
plantation, £2. 

The town of Hartford Dr. 
January 22, 1715-16. To 6 days journey to Woodbury to treat with the In- 
dians about the western lands, £1 4s. 
May, 1716, £ s d 

Expenses at Farmington ------- 49 

" " Waterbury ------ 17 

" Woodbury ------- 2 11 

For pilot and protection ------ 110 

Fastening horse shoe at Waterbury - - . - 2 

In 1718, the towns sold the land to proprietors, who formed a company 
for the settlement of the new plantation, one-sixth part of the territory 
having first been transferred to John Stanley and others of Farmington, in 
liquidation of their claim to it based on the original "black lead mine" deed 



8 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



of 1657, from the Indians, and on a later deed confirming tlie former, given 
in 1714; a still earlier indication than the purchase of Litchfield of the rising 
interest in and value of the Western Lands. The title to the territory was 
confirmed by the legislature to the proprietors in 1719, and in 1720 the first 
settlement was made by three men, one from each of the three original towns 
of the colony, Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield. The cost of the land to 
the proprietors did not exceed a penny and three farthings an acre — terms 
on which not many acres in the town could now be bought. But land went 
at low figures in the olden times. The price paid the Indian owners for the 
township of New Haven, was "twelve coates of enlish trucking cloath, twelve 
alcemy spoons, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, twelve por- 
engers, and four cases of French knives and scissors;" while the adjoining 
territory, "ten miles in length from north to south, and thirteen miles in 
width from east to west," comprising the present towns of Branford, Wal- 
lingford, East Haven, Woodbridge, Cheshire and North Haven, was bought of 
the Indian sachem owner, for "eleven coates made of trucking cloath, and 




SCENE ON THE HOUSATONIC IN KENT. 



one coat for himself, of English cloath, made after the English manner." The 
sale of the territory of Litchfield by the towns of Hartford and Windsor, 
roused the colony to assert its claim to the Western Lands, and in 1719 at 
the May session, the legislature enacted : — 

"That the whole of said tract of Land shall lie for the further dispose of 
this assembly, and all surveyors and persons appointed to lay out lands, are 
hereby forbidden to bound or lay out any of said land without the special 
order of this assembly." 

Nevertheless, Hartford and Windsor went on disposing of the land, and 
a fierce controversy arose between the colony on the one side, and these two 
towns and the settlers in the Western Lands to whom they had sold tracts, 
on the other, which was settled as records show, by compromise, in 1726, the 
colony taking one, the western half, and the two towns the other, the east- 
ern half; Litchfield, as already disposed of, being left out of the division. 

This long controversy had thoroughly advertised the unsettled lands, 



HISTORY OF KENT. 9 

and as soon as the division was completed in 1731, the whole was laid out 
into towns; the eastern half, into Colebrook, Hartland, Winchester, Bark- 
hamsted, Torrington, New Hartford, and Harwinton; and the western half 
into Kent (including Warren) Sharon, Cornwall, Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, 
(including North Canaan), and Salisbury. The owners on each side were 
eager to get their land into the market at the earliest day, and so between 
sellers and buyers, a genuine land speculation arose, and a western excite- 
ment spread throughout the colony. The colony enacted that its lands 
should be sold at public auction, "to inhabitants of Connecticut only," at the 
different county seats, and they were ro sold: Goshen at New Haven, in De- 
cember, 1737; Canaan at New London, in January, 1738; Cornwall at Fair- 
iield, in February of the same year; Kent at Windham, in March; Norfolk at 
Hartford, in April; Salisbury at Hartford, in May; and Sharon at New Ha- 
ven, in October. Meanwhile, in 1732, Hartford and Windsor had effected a 
division between themselves of their naif of the Western territory, Hartford 
taking three townships, viz.: New Hartford, Hartland and Winchester, with 
a half of Harwinton; and Windsor taking three townships, viz.: Barkham- 
sted, Torrington and Colebi'ook, with the other half of Harwinton; this 
latter town taking its name from this joint ownership of Hartford and 
Windsor; viz., "Har-win-ton." The land's of those seven townships were 
divided among the inhabitants of Hartford and Windsor respectively, and 
were of course, at once for sale. So that for the time, "western land" was 
no scarcity in the Connecticut real estate market, fourteen townships at once 
being a very fair supply. Speculators bought to sell again; young men 
"went west to grow up with the country;" and all north and east of Kent 
was alive, as was itself, with the interest of new settlement. Harwinton was 
the earliest settled; it being incorporated as a town in 1737, the General As- 
sembly, in its act of incorporation, mixing matters spiritual and temporal in 
this fashion: — 

"Resolved, that said Inhabitants have liberty to Imbody themselves into 
church estate and Settle an Orthodox minister of the Gospel in said Town, 
with the advice and consent of the neighboring churches; and it is further 
by this Assembly resolved that the Letter A shall be the Brand for horses in 
the Town of Harwinton." 

From this date till 1738, the date of the organization of Kent, the inhab- 
itants of Harwinton were engaged in a controversy among themselves as to 
the location of the meeting house, petition after petition, and remonstrance 
after remonstrance, in anything but amiable mood, following one another to 
the General Assembly, which had in those aays determination of things 
ecclesiastical as well as civil — a controversy which had at least this good re- 
sult, that there is preserved in the state archives in Hartford, a map of 
Harwinton at the time, with all the roads down on it, and the location of 
every house marked, with the dweller's name attached. Torrington, at the 
same time, was in process of settlement and organization, the inhabitants 
making their first petition to be organized into an ecclesiastical society at 
the same session of the General Assemoiy at which Northbury was incorpor- 
ated, October 1739; there being at that time nine families in the town; and a 
year later, October 1740, the town was incorporated, and so became an ec- 
clesiastical society. But not to go over the several towns in detail, a table 
of dates of the organization of the several settlements, will show how "all at 






SCENES ON 

THE 

HOUSATONIC. 



HISTORY OF KENT. IT 

once," to use a familiar phrase, the country sprang into life at the period of 
the settlement of Kent: Northbury church, organized 1740; Westbury, 1740; 
Bethlehem, 1740; Washington, 1742; Kent, 174^; Goshen, 1740; Cornwall, 
1741; Canaan, 1741; Torrington, 1741; Harwinton, 1737; New Hartford, 1738. 
So that Kent was by no means born alone. Its settlement was but one man- 
ifestation of a movement that pervaded the colony, the first great set of Con- 
necticut's westward tide; the tide that, with its successive flowings, has peo- 
pled the continent with its best inhabitants and noblest life. 

While the new life of Kent society was crystalizing into form, the same 
process of the beginnings of religious and civil organization was going on in 
the communities around it. As the primeval forest still covered this parish, 
unbroken save by the settler's clearings, so over Litchfield county the primi- 
tive wilderness stretched unbroken, save where here and there the centres 
were being established of the several towns. It is the period from which 
the life of Litchfield county takes its date. 

Westbury, now Watertown, was constituted an ecclesiastical society in 
1738, the same year as Kent. 

In Bethlehem, the first settlers are petitioning the General Assembly to 
be constituted a distinct society, which petition was granted at the October 
session, 1739, and the church was organized the following spring, March 27, 
1740. 

In Washington, too, the first settlement is under way, the pioneer set- 
tler, Joseph Hurlburt, locating there in 1736, and the community petitioning 
in 1741, to be organized into an ecclesiastical society, which was done by the 
General Assembly at the October session of that year, the society being 
named "Judea," likely from the hill country of Palestine, which of old bore 
that name. Immediately on the organization of the society, the building of 
the meeting-house was proceeded with, the inhabitants stating, in a petition 
to the General Assembly in May 1742, that they had "Unanymously and Lov- 
ingly Agreed upon a place for to set a Meeting House; ' the only instance of 
the kind in the early history of the county. The house was built during the 
same year; the cnurch being organized Sept. 1st., 1742; Rev. Reuben Judd, 
the first pastor being ordained the same day; the ceremonies taking place in 
a grove — the other society in the town, that of New Preston, was organized 
October, 1752. 

Into the "Wilderness" the first invasion was the settlement of Litchfield, 
and this introduces us to one of the most curious and interesting chapters of 
Connecticut history, as well as to a matter which early engaged the atten- 
tion of Northbury; it being the subject of a controversy which the new society 
waged with the mother town, from the time of its organization as a society 
until after it became a town itself — the famous affair of the"Western Lands." 
In the records of Waterbury, 1741, there is the following entry with reference 
to the matter: — 

"There having been considerable discourse about the money for which 
the western lands were sold and granted for the use of the school, and not 
agreeing in what method it should be disposed of, (the town) did by vote 
agree that they would refer it to some indifferent gentlemen, to be decided 
by them where the said money shall be disposed, whether it belongs to the 
first parish (of Waterbury) or should be divided among the several parish- 
es (including Westbury and Northbury)." 



J 2 HISTORY OF KENT. 

What were these "western lands?" The original title to the territory of 
New ^ngland was the grant, in 1620, by James I. to the Plymouth Company, 
of England of 

"All that part of America lying and being in breadth from the fortieth 
degree of north latitude, from the equinoctial line, to the forty-eighth degree 
of said northerly latitude inclusively, and in length of and^^ with all the 
breadth aforesaid, throughout the main land from sea to sea." 

In 1630 the Plymouth company conveyed to its president, Robert, Earl of 
Warwick, the territory of Connecticut; and he conveyed the same to Viscount 
Say and Seal, Lord Brooke and others by a patent bearing date of 1631, un- 
der authority of which in 1639, taking its name from its principal propri- 
etors. In this patent the limits of the grant are thus defined: — 

"All that part of New England in Americah which lyes and extends it 
selfe from a Riuer there caked Narrogancett Riuer, the space of forty leagues 
upon a straight lyne neere the sea shore towards the South west, west and 
by south or west, as the coast lyeth, towards Virginia, accounting Three 
English Miles to the leagiie, and allso all and Singular the lands and heredit- 
aments what Soeuer lyeing and being with in the lands afoarsayd. North 
and South in Lattitude and bredth, and in Length and i^ongitude of and with 
in all the bredth afoarsayd, through out the Maine lands there, from the 
westerne oscian to the South sea; and allso all Islands lying in Americah 
afoarsayd, in the said seas or either of them, on the western or eastern 
coasts or parts of sayd Tracts of lands." 

These limits were repeated in substance in the charter of the Connecti- 
cut colony given by Charles II in 1662— the charter that was hid in the 
Charter Oak, and which now hangs in the office of the Secretary of State in 
the capitol at Hartford — in the following form: — 

"All that parte of our Dominions in Newe England in America, bounded 
on the East by Norrogancett River, commonly called Norrogancett Bay, 
Where the said River falleth into the Sea, and in longitude as the lyne of the 
Massachusetts Colony, running from East to west; that is to say, from the 
said Norrogancett Bay on the East to the South Sea on the West parte, with 
the islands thereunto adioyneinge." 

By this title, Connecticut owned a strip seventy miles wide, extending 
across the continent, or nearly one-eighth of the circumference of the globe. 
By the "Sowth Sea" was meant the Pacific ocean, wherever that might be — 
how far across to it — which those who gave the titles did not clearly know. 
Beyond the limits of the settlements, the country was at that time a terra 
incognita, an unknown land; as much so as Central Africa has been in our 
time. At any rate the early settlers had no idea of ever occupying it, of ever 
being able, on account of numbers, to occupy it, and so they were careless 
as to the disposition of it. Thus, in giving deeds of land abutting on the 
"wilderness," owners used to describe the western limits, indefinitely, as 
"running west as far as the good land goeth." But time and the increase 
of numbers wrought a change in this estimate. As is well known, from this 
claim of Connecticut to lands west of its present boundaries, came the 
school fund of the state. But those far western claims had not yet entered 
into the thoughts of the colonists. The "Western lands" which engaged the 



HISTORY OF KENT. 1 3 

attention of our fathers lay nearer home, being none other than the terri- 
tory of what is now Litchfield county; and these in that day seemed as far 
away, and the settlement of them as bold an undertaking as that of the 
Rocky mountain region in our time. When the pioneers left their home on 
the Connecticut river or the Sound to brave these perils of the wilderness, 
prayers were offered up for them in the churches, as for those who might 
never see the faces of friends on earth again. 

The earliest school moneys of the state, aside from the income of the lot 
which, in the laying out of the towns, was uniformly reserved for the sup- 
port of the school in the town, were derived from the sale of these western 
lands; and this is how they came into the market. 

Upon the death, in 1685, of Charles II, who gave the Connecticut colony 
its charter, he was succeeded by his brother, James II, a man of arbitrary 
and despotic spirit, wiho, impatient of the freedom enjoyed by the colonies 
under their charters, resolved to revoke these, and consolidate the several 
colonies into one province, under a governor appointed directly by the 
Crown; and Sir Edmund Andros was sent over to consummate this scheme. 
He arrived in Boston in December 1686. Massachusetts was deprived of Tts 
charter; and, the f6llowing October, Andros appeared in Hartford to demand 
that of Connecticut. Meanwhile, the colony in anticipation of his coming 
and demand, and in the expectation that its charter would have to be sur- 
rendered, had taken care that Andros should get as little with it as might 
be. A special session of the General Court was held in January, at which 
the colony put out of its possession all its public lands, in order that, though 
the charter under which these were held might go, the ownership of the 
lands should remain in the colony. Accordingly the General Assembly at 
this session passed the following vote: — 

"This court grants the plantations (or towns) of Hartford and Windsor 
those lands on the north of Woodbury, and Mattatock (Waterbury), and on 
the west of Farmington and Simsbury to the Massachusetts line north, and 
to run west to Housatunick or Stratford river, to make a plantation or vil- 
lage thereon." 

This was an absolute grant, and vested the title to this territory uncon- 
ditionally in the aforesaid towns. 

Andros came and demanded the charter; with what result is familiar 
to all who are acquainted with the history of the time. He did not get it. 
Though surrendered in form, it was retained, in fact, concealed in the recess 
of the historic oak; and on the accession of William to the throne was re- 
instated, and the government of the colony under it restored. Then the 
colony, as was natural, wanted its western lands back again, and demanded 
them of Hartford and Windsor. But these towns did not acknowledge the 
demand. The lands, they said, had been given to them and were theirs, 
and they proposed to keep them. The case was as though a man, expecting 
to die, should dispose of his property, and then, unexpectedly recovering, 
should wish it back again. The colony evidently expected to die as such. 
It expected to lose its charter, and with it whatsoever it held under the 
charter — as one of the Massachusetts lawyers quaintly expressed it, "When 
the cow died, the calf died in the cow's belly." The records of the colony 
were closed with the minutes of the session of the General Court at which 
the charter was in form surrendered — as the merchants would say, "sold but 



14 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



not delivered" — and the clerk wrote at the end, in large letters, "Finis." But 
the succession of William to the throne changed all, and the colony found 
its'elf in the condition of Mother Hubbard's dog. 

Come thus unexpectedly to life again, as has been said, the colony wished 
to recover its surrendered estate, and thence arose a controversy between the 
colony and those towns which was waged for years, and was finally set- 
tled by a division of the lands in question, one half to remain with Hartford 
and Windsor, and the other half to revert to the colony; the towns taking 
the eastern half and the colony the western. And this is how it came about 
that the "western lands" were settled almost simultaneously. 




PASTORAL SCENE IN KENT. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE PIONEERS. 



THEY WERE REQUIRED TO liUILD HOUSES AT LEAST EIGHTEEN FEET S(JUARE, AND CLEAR 
SIX ACRES OF GROUND, HEFORE THE TITLE OF THE DEEDS FROM THE CJOVERNOR's 
COMMITTEE WOULD BE PERFECT. 

In the western part of the state sequestered in the valley of the Housa- 
tonic with mountains to the west and high overhanging hills to the east is 
situated the town of Kent. It covers an area of about eight by six square 
miles and has four railroad stations and six post offices. It is bounded on 
the north by Sharon, on the east by Warren, south by New Milford and 
west by the state of New York. The territory is characteristically mountain- 
ous, and has produced more or less iron and copper ore. 

The first move to put it into a township was in October, 1710, when the 
General Assembly appointed a committee to lay it out including what is now 
Kent and Warren. The committee reported in October the following year, 
having done its work promptly. The matter was dropped from this time un- 
til October, 1737, when the legislature ordered the township to be sold at 
auction to the highest bidder at the court house in Windham in December, 
1737. There were other townships contiguous to be vended in the same way, 
and the money was to be allotted to the several counties separately. There 
were fifty shares in each section of this township besides three shares that 
were to be set apart, one for the first minister that should settle there, to be 
conveyed to him in fee, one to be sequestered for the use of the present estab- 
lished ministry forever, and one for the use of the school or schools in the 
town forever. The purchaser before his title could be made perfect must 
bulla and finish a house eighteen feet square at least seven foot stud, and 
fence and clear six acres of ground within two years. In May, 1738, the 
assembly named the township Kent and annexed it to Hartford county. The 
first deed was given to Humphrey Avery, and is as follows: 

Whereas, by an act of the Assembly holden at New Haven October 13, yr. 
1737, entitled: An act for the ordering and directing the sale and settle- 
ment of all the townships in the western land. Among other things it is 
enacted that the southern town in said lands bounding Westerly on 
Housatonic River shall be vendued and sold at the court house in Wind- 
ham to the highest bidders, being inhabitants of this colony, on the first 
Tuesday of March next at one of the clock in the afternoon and contin- 
ued by adjournment till the whole be sold by Timothy Pierce, Ebenezer 
West and Jonathan Huntington, Esquires. They or any two of them to 
be a committee in the name of the governor and company to set the 
rights, take bonds and give deeds with references, etc. Therefore to all 
people to whom these presents shall come greeting: 



1 6 HISTORY OF KENT. 

Know ye that we, Timothy Pierce, Ebenezer West and Jonathan Hunting- 
ton by virtue of the power and authority to us granted in said act for 
and in consideration of the sum of one hundred eighty-flve pounds, six- 
teen shillings, to us in hand paid before the ensealing hereof by Hum- 
phrey Avery of Groton in the county of New London, in the colony of 
Connecticut, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge and there- 
upon in the name of the Governor and Company of the colony aforesaid 
do give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and confer unto the said Humphrey 
Avery, his heirs and assigns forever, one right, part, share or allot- 
ment in the township aforesaid, the same being divided into fifty-three 
equal shares or allotments exclusive of the lands granted to the col- 
lege and all former grants of the General Assembly that are surveyed 
and recorded in the public records of the colony and are lying in said 
town with the privileges and appurtenances thereof, thereunto belonging 
to have and to hold the said granted and bargained premises with all 
and singler the appurtenances thereof unto the said Humphrey Avery, 
his heirs and assigns for ever to his and their sole and proper use, benefil 
and behoof. And we, the said Timothy Pierce, Ebenezer West, Jonathan 
Huntington, do covenant to and with the said Humphrey Avery, his 
heirs and assigns in manner and form following: That is to say that at 
and until the ensealing of these presents we by virtue of the power and 
authority to us granted have good right to sell and dispose of the said 
granted premises in manner as aforesaid and that the same is free from 
all encumbrances whatsoever. Always provided and these presents arc 
upon this consideration that if the said Humphrey Avery shall by him- 
self or his agent within the space of two full years next after the date 
hereof enter upon the said granted premises build and finish an house 
thereon not less than eighteen feet square and seven feet stud, subdue, 
clear and fence six acres of said land and continue thereon for the space 
of three successive years commencing two years aforesaid unless pre- 
vented by death or inevitable Providence, and do and perform all orders 
and duties, pay all taxes that shall be granted then the aforesaid deed 
Shall remain in full force and virtue, but in default or neglect in either 
or all of the articles, the same shall be void and of none effect. An wit- 
ness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 7 day of 
March Anno Do-mini 1737-8. 

TIMOTHY PIERCE. 

EBENEZER WEST. 

JONATHAN HUNTINGTON. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of 

HEZEKIAH HUNTINGTON, 
MOSES GOVE. 

Timothy Pierce, Esq., Ebenezer West, Esq., and Jonathan Huntington Esq., 
all personally appeared and acknowledged the above written instrument 
to be their act and deed before me, 

JOSEPH ADAMS, 

Justice of the Peace. 

The town was subsequently divided into ten divisions the holders either 
drawing or "pitching" for choice. The list is as follows: 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



17 



FIRST DIVISION, MAY 1738. 



Humphrey Avery, 
John Beebe, 
Nathaniel Berry, 
Josiah Barn, 
Abel Barniim, 
Ebenezer Barnum, 
Nathaniel Barnum, 
Thomas Barman, 
Thomas Capson, 
Philip Caverly, 
Daniel Comstock, 
Samuel Canfield, 
Daniel Comstock, 
Johnathan Dunham, 
Francis Fanton, 
Joseph Hatch, 
Ephraim Hubbel, 
Peter Hubbel, 
Richard Hubbel, 
Johnathan Hubbel, 
Philip Judd, 

SECOND 

Humphrey Avery, 
Benjamin Brownson, 
Ebenezer Barnum, 
Abel Barnum, 
Nathaniel Berry, 
Josiah Barre, 
John Beebe, 
Thomas Beeman, 
Thomas Carson, 
Philip Caverly, 
Daniel Comstock, Sr., 
Samuel Canfield, 
Daniel Comstock, Jr., 
Johnathan Dunham, 
Frances Fenton, 
Ephraim Hubbel, 
Jonathan Hubbel, 
Joseph Hatch, 
Richard Hubbel, 
Peter Hubbel, 
Philip Judd, 



John Knapp and Noah Rockwell, 

Samuel Lewis, 

John Mitchell, 

John Mills, 

Jonathan Morgan, Sr., 

Jonathan Morgan, Jr., 

Mitchel Knell (or Knell Mitchell), 

Samuel Miner, 

Thomas Newcomb, 

John Porter, ■ 

John Smith, 

Thomas Skeels, 

Nathaniel Slosson, 

Zephania Swift, 

John Seely (or Seely John). 

Josiah Starr, 

Thomas Tozer, 

Abel Wright, 

Blisha Williams, 

Jacob Warner. 

DIVISION, SEPTEMBER 1738. 

John Knapp and Noah Rockwell, 

Samuel Lewis, 

John Mills, 

Jonathan Morgan, 

John Mitchel, 

Samuel Miner, 

Knell Mitchell, - 

Thomas Newcomb, 

John Porter, 

Noah RocKwell and John Knapp, 

zjephariah Swift, 

John Seely, 

Thomas Skeels, 

Josiah Starr, 

Natuaniel Slosson, 

John Smith, 

Thomas Tozer, 

Abel Wright, 

Elisha Williams, 

Abraham Warner. 



Humphrey Avery, 
Benjamin Brownson, 
Nathaniel Berry, 
John Beebe, 
Josiah Barre, 



THIRD DIVISION, MAY 1739. 

Abel Barnum, 
Ebenezer Barnum, 
Nathaniel Barnum, 
Ebenezer Barnum, 
Thomas Beeman, 



i8 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Thomas Carson, 

Daniel Comstock, Jr., 

Philip Caveiiy, 

Daniel Comstock, St., 

Samuel Canfield, 

Jonathan Dunham, 

Frances Fenton, 

Josepn Hatch, 

Peter Hubbel, 

Jonathan Hubbel, 

Ephraim Hubbel, 

Richard Hubbel, 

Philip Judd, 

John Knapp and Noah Rockwell 

Samuel Lewis, 

Knell Mitchell, 

John Mills, 

FOURTH 



John Mitchell, 

Jonathan Morgan, 

Samuel Miner, 

Thomas Newcomb, 

John Porter, 

Noah Rockwell and John Knapp, 

John Smit-, 

John Seely, 

Zephaniah Swift, 

Josiah Starr, 

Thomas Skeeles, 

Nathaniel Closson, 

Thomas Tozer, 

Abraham Warner, 

Abel Wright, 

Elisha Williams. 

DIVISION, MAY 1740. 



Humphrey Avery, 
Joshua Barnum, 
Ebenezer Barnum, 
Gideon Barnum, 
Ebenezer Barnum and 
Thomas Beeman, 
Benjamin Brownson, 
Nathaniel Berry, 
John Beebe, 
William Buriaham, 
Samuel Batts, 
Nathaniel Bostwick, 
Thomas Carson, 
Daniel Comstock, 
Philip Caverly, 
Samuel Canfield and 
Daniel Comstock, 
Joseph Fuller, 
Richard Hubbel, 
Barnabas Hatch, 
Timothy Hatch, 
Ephraim Hubbel, 
Philip Judd, 



Samuel Lewis, 

Ebenezer Lyman and others, 
John Mills, 
Jonathan Morgan, 
Jehiel Barnum, Knell Mitchell, 

Ebenezer Marsh, 
Thomas Newcomb, 
Azariah Pratt, 
Joseph Peck, 
John Porter, 
John Roberts, 
John Ranson, • 
Judah Swift, 
Thomas Skeels, 
John Smith, 
others, Zephaniah Swift, 

Thomas Skeels, 
Nathaniel Sanford, 
Nathaniel Slosson, 
Abel Wright, 

Abel Wright, Samuel Canfieid and Eb- 
enezer Lyman. 

FIFTH DIVISION, MAY 1748. 



Thomas Beeman, 

Benjamin Brownson, 

Jehiel Barnum and — Swift, 

William Burnham, 

Nathaniel Berry and Josiah Starr, 

Nathaniel Bostwick, 

Nathaniel Berry and Philip Judd, 

John Clemmons, 



Philip Caverly, 
Daniel Comstock, 
Nathaniel Cushman, 
Philip Caverly, 
Joseph and John Cary, 
Daniel Comstock Sr. and Jr. 
Charles Duncumb, 
Ebenezer Devotion. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



19 



John Davis and Neamiah Mead, 

John Davis and Josiah Starr, 

John Fitch, 

John French and Joseph Themberry, 

Joseph Fuller and James Laid, 

John Fitch and Henry Silsby, 

John Henderson, 

Barnabas Hatch, 

Sylvanius and Timothy Hatch, 

Ephraim Hiibbel, 

Richard Hubbel, 

Philip Judd and Nathaniel Berry, 

Nathaniel Kingsley, 

Joseph Kingsley and John French, 

James Lazel and Joseph Fuller, ' 

Blisha Lilly, 

Joshua Lazel, 

Cyrais Marsh, John Roberts, 



Nehemiah Mead and John Davis, 

Knell Mitchell, 

Jonathan Morgan, 

John Miiis, 

Bbenezer Marsh, 

Daniel Pratt, 

Josiah Starr and Nathaniel Berry, 

John Roberts and Josiah Tho-mas, 

Jonathan Rudd, 

David Ripley, 

Jabez and Moses Swift, 

Henry Sibley and John Fitch, 

Nathaniel Sanford and Henry Silsby, 

John Smith, Jabez Swift, 

Nathaniel Slosson, 

David Smith and Josiah Thomas, 

Jehiel Barnum and — Swift, 



SIXTH DIVISION, 1750. 



Nathaniel Bostwick, 

Jehiel Barnum, 

Thomas Beeman, 

Benjamin Brownson, 

Nathaniel Berry, 

Heirs of William Barnum, 

Nathaniel Cushman, 

Philip Caverly, 

Daniel Comstock, Sr. and Jr., 

John and Joseph Gary, 

John Cogswell, 

John Davis, 

John Davis and Nehemiah Mead, 

Ebenezer Devotion, 

Charles Duncomb, 

John French and Joseph Kingsberry; 

Josiah Griswold, 

Silas G-eer, 

Richard Hubbel, 

Ephraim Hubbel, 

Timothy Hatch, 

Philip Judd and David Ripley, 

Nathaniel Kingsley, 



Joseph Kingsberry and John French, 

Joshua Lazel, 

Elisha Lilley, 

Ebenezer Marsh, 

Nehemiah Mead and John Davis, 

John Mills, 

Jonathan Morgan, 

Knell Mitchell, 

Cyrus Marsh, 

David Ripley, 

Jonathan Rudd, 

David Ripley and Philip Judd, 

Jonathan Rudd and Joseph Skiff, 

Jonathan Rudd, 

Jc'hn Smith, 

Jabez and Mo«es Swift, 

Joseph Skiff, 

Joseph Skiff and Jonathan Rudd, 

Nathaniel Sanford and Joshua Lazel, 

Jabez Swift, 

David Smith, 

Josiah Thomas, 

John Walden. 



SEVENTH DIVISION, 1752. 



Benjamin Brownson, 
Heirs of William Burnham, 
Nathaniel Berry and Jabez Swift, 
Jehiel Barnum, 
Nathaniel Bostwick, 
David Barnum, 



Heirs of Thomas Beeman, 

Philip Caverly, 

Daniel Comstock, Sr. and Jr., 

Nathaniel Cushman, 

John Davis, 

Ebenezer Devotion, 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Charles Duncumb, 

John French and Joseph Kingsberry, 

Nathaniel Fuller and John Mills, 

Silas Geere, 

Josiah Griswold, 

Ephraim Hubbel, 

Timothy Hatch, 

Richard Hubbel, 

Barnabas Hatch, 

Philip Judd and David Ripley, 

Joseph Kingsberry and John French, 

Nathaniel Kingsberry, 

Elisha Lilley. 

Knell Mitchell, 

Jehiel Murray, 

Pelatiah Marsh. 



Nehemiah Mead and John Davis, 

Ebenezer Marsh, 

Daniel Pratt, 

David Ripley, 

David Ripley and Philip Judd, 

Jonathan Rudd, 

Jonathan Rudd and Joseph Skiff, 

Jabez Swift and Nathaniel Berry, 

David Smith, 

John Smith, 

Jabez and Moses Swift, 

Jabez Swift, 

Joseph Skiff, 

Josiah Thomas, 

John Welden. 



EIGHTH DIVISION, 1755. 



Joseph Beeman, 

Peleg Bruster and Nathaniel Smith, 

Heirs of Williams Burnham, 

Heirs of Nathaniel Bostwick, 

Samuel Carter and Wm. Swetland, 

Josepu Cary, 

John Caverly, 

Nathaniel Cushman, 

Jehoshaphat Eldrid and Jabez Swift, 

Charles Duncumb, 

Ebenezer Devotion, 

David Ferriss and Paul Welch, 

John Finney, 

Frances Fen ton, 

Josiah Griswold, 

Samuel Hotchkiss, 

Barnabas Hatch, 

Ephraim Hubbel, 

Timothy Hatch, 

Philip Judd and David Ripley, 

Samuel William Johnson, 

Nehemiah Mead and Samuel William 

Johnson, 
Nathaniel Kingsley, 



Joseph Kingsberry, 

Joshua Lazel, 

Heirs of Knell Mitchell, 

Thomas Morriss, 

John Mills, 

Ebenezer Marsh, 

Pelatiah Marsh, 

Jonathan Rudd, 

Jonathan Rudd and Joseph Skiff, 

David Ripley and Philip Judd, 

Thomas Rowley and Paul Welch, 

William Swetland and Samuel Carter, 

Juban Strong, 

Samuel Silsby, 

Nathaniel Smith and Peleg Bruster. 

Jabez Swift and Jeaoshaphat Eldrid, 

Samuel Silsby, 

Joseph Skiff and Jonathan Rudd, 

Juban Strong, 

Jabez Swift, 

Heirs of David Smith, 

John Waldein, 

Samuel Waller, 

Paul Welch and Thomas Rowlee. 



NINTH DIVISION, 1761. 



Humphrey Avery and Philip Caverly, 

Abel Barnum, 

John Beebe, 

Ebenezer Barnum, 

Benjamin Brownson, 

Thomas Buman, 

Nathaniel Berry, 



Nathaniel Barnum, 

Thomas Carson, 

Daniel Comstock, 

Samuel Canfield, 

Jonathan Dunham, 

David Ferriss, 

David Ferriss and Paul Welch, 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Frances Penton, 

Ephraim Hubbel, 

Jediah Hubbel, 

Joseph Hatch (supposed to be), 

Peter Hubbel, 

Richard Hubbel, 

Jonathan Hubbel, 

Thomas Newcomb, 

Jonathan Morgan, 

John Mills, 

John Mitchel, 

Knell Mitchell, 

John Knapp and Noah Rockwell, 

Philip Judd, 



Noah Rockwell, 

Jabez Swift, 

John Smith, 

Thomas Skeels, 

Nathaniel Slosson, 

Zephania Swift, 

John Seely, 

Josiah Starr, 

Thomas Skeels, 

Thomas Lozer, 

Abell Wright, 

Elisha Williams, 

Paul Welch and David Ferriss, 

Abraham Wanser. 



John Porter, 

TENTH DIVISION, VOTED 1771 AND LAID OUT 1773. 



Friend Beeman, 

Moses Billings, 

Sherman Boardman, 

Heirs of William Burnham, 

Timothy Beeman, 

Rev. Joel Bordwell and his wife Jane, 

John Beeman and Gideon Morgan, 

Ebenezer Beeman, 

Nathaniel Brown and Nathaniel Bos- 
worth, 

Daniel Comstock Jr., Abel Comstock 
Oersham Comstock, 

Heirs of Joseph Gary, 

Samuel Garter and William Sweet- 
land, 

Ebenezer Curtis Jr., 

Roger Cogswell, 

Isaac Camp and John Keeny, 

Julius Caswell and Joseph Parker, 

Julius Caswell, Joseph Parker, 
Eleazer Thomson, 

Jehoshaphat Eldrid and Jabez Swift, 

John French and Joseph Kingsberry 

Amaziah and Joel Ferriss, 

Simeon Fuller, 

John Foot, 

John Finney Jr., 

Jedediah Hubbel and William Sam- 
uel Johnson esq., 



Ephraim Hubbel, 

Jethro Sylvanus and Timothy Hatch, 

Jedidiah Hubbel esq., 

Philip Judd and Rev. Nathaniel Tay- 
lor, 

Samuel W. Johnson esq., 

Joseph Kingsberry and John French, 

John Keeney and Isaac Camp, 

Amaziah Lyon and James New- 
comb, 

Heirs of Colonel Ebenezer Marsh, 

Jerusha Miner, 

William Marsh, 

Gideon Morgan and John Beeman, 

James Newcomb and Amaziah Lyon, 

Joseph Parks and Julius Caswell, 

Joseph Parks, Julius Caswell and 
Eleazer Thomson, 

Joseph Pratt Jr., 

Daniel Pratt, 

Peter Pratt, 

Lester Road, Silas Tracy and Joseph 
Whittlesey, 

William S wetland, 

Heirs of Jabez Swift and Jehosha- 
phat Eldrid, 

Eibenezer Strong, 

Philip Strong, 

Paul Welch esq. 



Barnabas Hatch, 

N. B. The whole of the foregoing in their alphabet respect only. 

The Ten original divisions without any regard to after conveyances, high- 
way, etc. 

[The above notice is written as it is in the records in regard to capital- 
ization, etc.] 



2 2 HISTORY OF KENT. 

We quote from the quaint way of the surveyors the following language: 
"We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee to view and lay out the 
plot in the township of E, accordingly repaired to said township viewed and 
laid out the town plot in manner following, viz: Beginning at the south- 
ernmost part of a large intervale called the Great Plains where a small 
spring or run of water empties itself into the Ousatonic river, there we laid 
a heap of stones. Thence we run east thirty-three degrees; south and west- 
erly two rods. Thence we pitched a stake and laid stones to it. Thence we 
run north forty-five degrees, east four miles and a half and have laid a 
highway so far twelve rods wide and from the foresaid stakes and stones. 
We have continued the highway twelve rods wide running south twenty- 
five degrees, west down to Fairweather's land and have laid out the land 
on both sides of the said highway beginning at the aforesaid stakes and 
stones and have divided the Great Plains into thirty-nine lots all numbered 
by the highway, which thirty-nine lots have a lot numbered with the same 
number belonging to them either on the eastward or westward side of the 
said highway, except the twelfth lot on the plain." 

The first meeting of the new owners was held in Windham according to 
the records "March ye 8th 1738," and is described as "ye proprietors of a 
certain township in the colony of Connecticut, sold at public vendue (per- 
suing to a vote of the assembly) at the court house at Windham the 7th 
inst." This however does not agree with the colonial records, which says the 
public vendue took place the preceding December. Humphrey Avery of 
Groton was moderator and also proprietors' clerk. At this meeting Lieu- 
tenant John Mitchell of Woodbury, Lieutenant Thomas Newcomb of Leb- 
anon, Captain Johnathan Dunham of Colchester, Humphrej^ Avery of Gro- 
ton and Captain Ebenezer Hubbell of Newtown were appointed a committee 
fully empowered to lay out such, parts of the new town as they should 
think for the best interests of all. They were also to lay out to each pro- 
prietor an equal part for quality and quantity and give a survey of the same 
under the hands of a major portion of the committee, including the high- 
ways. The lots were not to be less than fifty acres, were to be laid out in 
one or two parcels for each proprietor as the committee should think fit 
and to be drawn by number. Their pay was to be at the rate of ten shil- 
lings per day. 

In May of that same year, before leaving for their new homes in the wil- 
derness, Humphrey Avery was appointed agent to prepare a memorial to the 
general assembly for the abatement of the price of the land in whole or in 
part. His application could not have been successful because about five 
years later some of the land owners applied to the assembly for relief as they 
were unable to meet their maturing obligations, the land having been 
bought with a bond for a deed. They were given more time and it is sup- 
posed eventually paid up. 

The next vote was to give Yale College 300 acres of land "near what is 
called the Tamerish swamp," now in the township of Warren. The boun- 
daries must surely have perished ere this. They are described as "white oak 
stakes, with pile of stones, marked Y. C, rock marked Y. C. and a red oak 
tree." The farm is one of the college's not over valuable assets now, and is 
generally rented. 

One of the first things needed in a new town is a saw mill, and Ebenezer 
Barnum of Danbury was given the forty-ninth lot in the first division pro- 



HISTORY OF KENT. 23 

vided he would erect one by the last of the following December and a grist 
mill in two years, the lot to be retained if not built on. Six years later he 
was given liberty to lay out six acres of undivided lands for the making of a 
dam for his iron works, which leads the writer to believe that he was an 
ancestor of the late Wm. H. Barnum who made a fortune in the iron busi- 
ness in the nearby town of Salisbury. Next he was given four more acres, 
and in 1757 was given all the proprietor's land that his dam would cause 
water to flow over. 

Apparently the woodland had been so well cleared up by April. 1748, 
that some alarm was felt that the supply would not more than equal the de- 
mand for Nathaniel Slosson and Samuel Canfield were appointed a commit- 
tee "to take care of the woods on the common and see it is not destroyed 
by anybody cutting it off." 

We have already noted that at this time the wheels of industry had been 
started and that the town voted substantial encouragement. The next man 
to receive public favor was John Henderson, who was voted a pitch of land 
toward his fifth division, a little below the grist mill that stands on Apetuk 
brook in the commons, containing twenty acres or any number under that, to 
set up a fulling mill. 

In December, 1738, John ^Morgan was given ten acres of land on both sides 
of the brook known as Mill brook provided he had a good saw mill fit for use 
by the first of June, 1739, and kept said mill in good repair for twelve years. 
Elisha Perry was given sixty-four acres, including the "gi'eat falls" above 
the ten acres for a grist mill. Evidently in those days one or both of these 
men wanted to monopolize the business, for a few months later it was i'oted 
that neither should combine the two kinds of mills at their respective places. 
After this when encouragement enough had been given in this line the saw 
mill place in lots 35 and 36 was offered at public auction. 

In 1750 Daniel Comstock must have become the village shoe maker for 
he was given the privilege of building a "shew" maker's shop in the highway 
right against his house. 

Jacob Bull of Dover, Duchess County, N. Y., was the next to apply for 
the privilege of building a saw mill or iron works on the grant known as the 
Fairweather. This was in 1756, and he paid thirty pounds to the town. 
When his mill was finished he was given liberty to build a house in the 
highway. 

James Stuart was given the right to turn the water of the Housatonic in- 
to Mill brook if he built a good gi'ist mill, and about the same time Thomas 
Skeel was privileged to build another grist mill at the most convenient 
place near south "Spectial" pond, provided he had it done within a twelve 
months and a day. 

The first years evidently were prosperous, as the grand list of that year 
shows: 

£ 
Isaac Benton, --------- 28 

Nathaniel Berry, -------- 115 

Richard Barnum, -------- is 

Benjamin Bronson, ------- 62 

Samuel Bates, --------- 29 

Ebenezer Barnum, ------- 23 

Thomas Beman, -------- 66 



s 


d 








5 























10 












24 



HISTORY OF KENT. 

£ 

24 
Amos Barnum. ------ 

21 
Daniel Beman, ------- 

oo 
Gideon Barnum, - - - 

99 

John Bentley, -- 

91 

E. Beman, ------- 

Jehial Barnum, - - " " ^^ 

no 

David Comstock, -------- 

1 ^ 
Abel Comstock, -------- 

Daniel Comstock, ------- 75 

Samuel Comstock, -------- 89 

Daniel Cross, -------- 2o 

Nathan Delano, -------- 36 

J. Fuller, -.:------ 83 

Barnabas 



Hatch, -------- 55 



Timothy Hatch, 



E. Hubbell, 



J. Hassell, 



Thomas Morris, 



76 



Jethro Hatch, --------- 21 

Benjamin Hamilton, ------- 43 



96 



Philip Judd, -------- 41 

Samuel Lattean, -------- 24 



68 



John Mills, --------- 99 

J. Morgan, --------- 47 



33 



Benjamin Newcomb, ------- 59 

Stephen Nolles, -------- 62 

Jonathan Nolles, -------- 28 

Jesse Pratt, --------- 53 

Azariah Pratt, - -- 52 

Abram Raymond, -------- 40 

John Ransom, -------- 40 

Jean Stewart, --------- 87 

N. Slosison, ----- --- 55 

Samuel Skeal, --------- 18 

Reuben Swift, -------- 31 

Daniel Thomson, -------- 37 

J. Thomas, --------- 57 

E. Washborn, --------- 88 

J. Wallig, --------- 18 

M. Lathrop, --------- 23 

Nathaniel Roberts, ------- 29 

Moses Rowley, --------- 39 

Jacob Galusha, -------- 2:3 

Ebenezer Park, -------- 22 

Wm. Spooner, -------- 19 

Stephen Paris, --------- 25 

John Beebe, --------- 77 

Nathaniel Swift, -------- 33 

Jehial Benton, -------- 42 

I. Swift, - - - 8 



s 


d 














11 

















15 























8 


6 




















10 









































1 





10 









































12 





14 











7 





10 





























10 





















































17 











10 












HISTORY OF KENT. 



25 



£ s d 
Alexander Keney, ------- 21 00 

John Massay, --------- 25 00 

Jesse Small, --------- 28 00 

JEHIAL BARNUM, 
SAMUEL HUBBELL, Listers. 

In December, 1749, Capt. Nathaniel Berry was sent to the G-eneral As- 
sembly to pray for a county to be established for this part of the govern- 
ment, and at the same time it was voted to confer with the towns of New Mil- 
ford, Newtown and Woodbury. The memorialists were successful two 
years later when the county of Litchfield was named and Kent became a part 
of it. 

Evidently wild cats were a terror to the community for in 1752 it was 
voted to give £2 for every wild cat's head produced, and another vote was a 
sixpence for every black bird killed and threepence for each young one 
killed in the middle of May. 




\ 1 I >l K VWA AUE. 



Rams and swine were a source of more or less trouble at each town 
meeting. In 1743 it was voted "to fine fifteen shillings for every ram taken 
up on the common, the fine to be paid to those who chose to take up the ram," 
but swine were to have the privilege of running free. 

Other votes were in 1743 "to ask the assembly to annex the inhabitants 
of the west side of the Hoaisatonic to us;" in 1747 to build a road to Litch- 
field; in 1748 to pay fifteen shillings for a day's work and a sixpence for 
each yoke of oxen; in 1749 to sell the town stock of powder. 

In 1742 Kent was allotted to the Litchfield Probate court. ^ 

In 1748 the society of East Greenwich was authorized as the inhabitants 
found it difficult to attend public worship ai the first society. In 1767 upon 
the petition of Nathan Tibbals, Stephen Starkweather, Wm. Wedge, Jede- 
diah Durkee, Wm. Guthrie, and Ephraim Guthrie, the society was annexed 
to New Preston, the bounds "beginning at a bridge over the Shepaug river 
in the road from New Milford to Litchfield, thence a straight line to the 
southeast coirner of Philip Strong's lot he now lives on, thence to straight 



26 HISTORY OF KENT, 

line to the southeast corner of the lot of Joseph Beamond now lives, thence 
to the West Pond so called." Wm. Spooner, Peleg and Perez Sturdevant 
and Ebenezer Peck were others that were set off to the new society. 

The old deeds refer frequently to the Fairweather purchase, but as there 
is no deed on record in Kent of this property a search was made through 
the old colonial records where it was found that in 1707 there was a large 
tract of land granted to Hon. Nathaniel Gold, Peter Burr and several others 
of Fairfield for a township in what is now the southern portion of Kent and 
the northern portion of New Milford, and that they in turn sold a part or 
all of it to Robert Silliman, Richard Hubbell and Benjamin Fairweather, the 
latter being described as the "cornet of the troop in Fairfield." The latter's 
purchase contained some 3,800 acres and was six miles in length from east to 
west and three hundred rods wide. When the owner died the large tract was 
divided between his heirs. 

Our forefathers did not take the serious view of the present day in re- 
gard to lotteries. It is recorded in 1783 "that this town accept the bill in form 
from the last general assembly for a lottery to build a bridge over the Hous- 
atonic river." Capt. Joseph Pratt, Capt. Abraham Fuller and Capt. Joseph 
Carter were appointed a committee to lay out the money or so much of it as 
was needed to complete the bridge. Some hitch occurred for at the next 
meeting the managers were required to call in the tickets that were out for 
sale. The next year however they were directed to begin the draw on the 
second Monday in October. In December they were instructed to complete 
the lottery. 

The bridges over the Housatonic were always more or less a subject of 
contention at town meetings, and numerous controversies are recorded. 
Joseph Pratt, jr., Abraham Fuller and Lewis Mills were appointed a com- 
mittee in 1772 to bridge the river at Bonny's place. The timber had all 
been drawn and the structure nearly completed when the town revoked the 
conti'act, but the contractors appealed to the general assembly, who ordered 
them to complete the work and collect of the selectmen. At another time 
the town meeting refused to bridge the river at another place, and the gent- 
eral assembly appointed a committee to "view" the place, but the town de- 
cided to build before the viewing took place. 

In 1771 Moses Rowley was accused by the general assembly of deceiving 
it in representing that a grant of land which the state had given him was 
small when it was large, the gift being made on account of his having 
bought of Robert Watson a section of land belonging to the Scatacook In- 
dians. 

In 1777 it was voted: "That we will allow of inoculation of smallpox un- 
der proper restrictions that shall hereafter be agreed by this meeting. 
That it shall be restricted to the 15th of April next." 

In 1776 a memorial was sent to the General Assembly with the follow- 
ing result: 

Upon the memorial of the town of Kent in the county of Litchfield, pray- 
ing for liberty that for the future the inhabitants of said town make, mend 
and maintain their highways by a town rate, and that it be passed into a law 
the better to enable said town to maintain their own highways as said town 
shall agree, and that the inhabitants of said town be excused from working 
at highways in the usual method; as per memorial on file. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



27 



Resolved by this Assembly That the said town of Kent have liberty, and 
authority is hei-eby granted to the inhabitants of said town, to tax the poles 
and rateable estate of said inhabitants to raise such sums of money as said 
town shall from time to time judge necessary and sufficient to repair all pub- 
lic highways in said town, which tax shall be collected by the several sur- 
veyors of the several districts for repairing highways in said town and be by 
such surveyors laid out and improved for the repairing highways in each 
district in said town; and said town is hereby impowered, by the selectmen or 
a committee chosen annually or from time to time as occasion shall require, 
to divide the highways in said towns into districts and to assign to each sur- 
veyor a certain proportion of highways to be repaired and maintained, and to 
divide out and proportion to the several surveyors of the several districts 
the money so raised by said town according to the quantity or proportion of 
roads set out to them as aforesaid within their respective districts, in the 
same manner and form as other town surveyors or any of them after such 
surveyor shall render a true account of such money by him so collected to 




DEPOT AT KENT. 

the selectmen of said town in a reasonable time when thereto required after 
the same becomes payable to said collectors; and all surplus of such money 
as shall remain in the hands of such taxes are collected; and every such 
highways are sufficiently repaired shall be paid into the hands of the treas- 
urer of said town for the time being, and by him and his successors in said 
office paid out to the next succeeding surveyors of the several districts re- 
spectively in the same proportion as the money raised by said town for the 
purpose of repairing highways for the then current year shall by said select- 
men or committee be ordered to be divided. 

And it is further resolved, That this liberty and authority shall be and 
remain to said town of Kent during the pleasure of this Assembly. 

During the revolution or rather for the year 1776 the tax rate was to 
be two pence per pound, and the price of each day's work for that year was 
to equal the price of a bushel of wheat. 

The town's first experience with bad money was in 1786 when "the select- 
men were authorized to settle with Col. Andrew Adams and grant such relief 
as they think fit for the counterfeit bills he has taken for the state rates," 



2 8 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Nathan Slosson was appointed tax collector to make all persons outside 
of the colony pay a license to sell goods in Kent. 

In 1790 Electrons Hoit was given liberty to build a hatter's shop. 

At a meeting of the town held April 9, 1804, it is recorded that the in- 
habitants came through and over snow drifts in many places four or five feet 
deep. 

Up to November 18, 1825, town meetings were held at Flanders, in the 
northern part of the town. The town then voted to accept the old Episcopal 
church on Kent plains if it was "moved onto the ground a few rods north- 
ward where it now stands, with the ground it may there stand on, free of 
expense to the town for a town house for said town." The first meeting 
was held in the new quarters March 10, 1826. 

About this time there was considerable agitation to have a canal from 
Stockbridge, Mass., to tide water at Derby. This is the language of the res- 
olution the town meeting passed: "That we claim it is the interest and duty 
of every individual situated near the proposed route to aid and assist in the 
completion of this object oy endeavoring to promote and otherwise concert 
in measures calculated to effect it by lending funds as circumstances may en- 
able and the vastness of the undertaking may require. That no other route 
to tide water heretofore suggested is by us regarded as equally important or 
can equally well accommodate this town or that portion of the public subject- 
ed to land carriage which lies between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers." 




J. !•■. r.lKV.S PKOl'KKTV, USKl) AS TOWN IIAI.I,, 



CHAPTER III. 



MILITARY SPIRIT. 



THE TRAINBAND BECAME ONE OK THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OK KENT IN ITS EARLY 
DAYS, AND KROM THAT TIME UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR THE TOWN's LOYALTY AND EN- 
THUSIASM FOR ITS country's KLAG WAS BOUNDLESS. 

In the organization of the early towns of Connecticut, provision was 
made for a public ground, known as the parade ground or green, on which the 
meeting house shall stand and which should be used for the training and 
display of the military company which every town was expected to maintain, 
and the organization and maintenance of which was regarded as a concern 
second in interest and importance only to that of the church. As in the settle- 
ment of other towns these two interests the "benefit of christian duties," 
and "defence against enemies" were always combined. The inhabitants not 
only "trusted in God," "but kept their powder dry," and the care and use of 
the powder was closely associated with the worship of God. It was so of ne- 
cessity; for in those early, perilous days, their only earthly security often- 
times was in the fire-arms which they carried with them to meeting, and 
which it stood them in hand to know how to use. Upon the prayer or the 
psalm, might burst at any moment the war-whoop of the savage. Unlike the 
apostle, they had to contend with "fiesh and blood" in the red skins of In- 
dians, as well as with the "principalities and powers" of the spiritual world; 
and accordingly they armed themselves against both. This gave a distinctly 
military, as well as spiritual character to the life of the early New Eng- 
land communities. Military office held rank with religious, the "captain" 
being counted second in position and impoirtance only to the minister. 
Next in public regard to the worship of the Sabbath, was the parade of 
"training day." Those who could remember olden times never forgot the 
pomp and circumstance of that supreme occasion, when all work was laid 
aside, even the washing had to wait, unless it was done the Sunday night 
before, for 

"The first Monday in May, was training day:"— 
when all the boys got "stents," a week beforehand, and worked like beavers 
to finish them so as to have that day free; and all the people turned out, old 
and young, male and female; and the green was thronged; and all the 
fences round were lined with horses, for wheeled vehicles were few; and 
in the centre, the "train-band," brilliant with their uniforms, and their 
captain at their head with port sublime, went through those wonderful ev- 
olutions, those marchings and count ermarchings, those right wheels and 
left wheels, and finally that "whipping the snake," which seemed to the 
lookers on to surpass all human powers, not only of execution, but even of 
comprehension; while the drums rolled, and the fifes screamed, and the 



3© HISTORY OF KENT. 

plumes waved in the wind, and the excited crowd scarcely knew whether it 
was peace or war, whether they were on the field of battle or the village 
green; and the wives were proud of their husbands as they saw them in the 
ranks, and the sweethearts of their lovers, and the boys devoured the 
squares of shining molasses gingerbread which they had knocked over with 
stones, set up at so many paces for a cent a throw; and their sisters and 
mothers gorged themselves with "training cake," and all went home at night 
happy, and some of them drunk. 

The first need of a new community was a public ground, and this was 
supplied in that part of the town known as Flanders in a lot back of the 
tavern kept by Col. Philo Mills, known :n later years as the Burritt Baton 
place. The first train band in Kent must have beien formed as soon as there 
were enough settlers to make a quorum, as the general assembly in May, 
1739, passed a resolution that "the military companies in the towns of Kent, 
Woodbury, New Milford, Litchfield, Cornwall, Goshen, Canaan, Norfolk, Sal- 
isbury, Sharon, and New Fairfield shall be one entire regiment to be dis- 
tinguished by the name of the Thirteenth regiment." The officers were 
Joseph Minor, colonel; Wm. Preston, lieutenant colonel; John Bostwick, 
major. At the May session in 1740, Timothy Hatch was appointed and con- 
firmed as captain of the company or trainband; John Mills, lieutenant; and 
Nathaniel Berry, ensign. Each company was required to have sixty-four 
members, and the town was obliged to have on hand at least fifty pounds of 
powder, 200 pounds of bullets, and 300 flints for every sixty men enlisted. 
Nathaniel Berry in October, 1745, was promoted to a lieutenancy and in 
1750 to be captain 

This early training had kindled a military fire in the hearts of the in- 
habitants of Kent, and when the blow for independence was to be struck 
the town was quick to respond as the records of the severa] town meetings 
at this period show. The first indication of a spirit of unrest is manifested 
by the following in 1770: "Voted, That we are opposed to having European 
goods imported under the present condition of things." The indignation 
which may have moldered for some time, could not be kept down, for three 
years later the following votes are spread on the records: 

"At a town meeting lawfully warned and held by the inhabitants of the 
town of Kent at the old meeting house in the first society in Kent on the 
26th day of October, 1774, voted and made choice of Capt. Nathaniel Swift, 
moderator. Voted, that this meeting having taken into consideration the 
alarming situation of the American colonies now burdened with the yoke of 
ministerial oppression by those unconstitutional and oppressive acts of Par- 
liament, The Boston Port Bill and the ever to be detested Quebec Bill, en- 
grosses our greatest attention and esteeming the General Congress now sit- 
ting at Philadelphia and committees of correspondenoe in each town through 
the colonies the most likely method to preserve our invaluable privilege 
both of a civil as well as religious nature from the stroke of impending 
ruin, and hand them down inviolable to the latest posterity we do heartily 
acquiesce in the wise and glorious effort for the preservation of liberty and 
taking into consideration the distressing circumstances of the poor in Bos- 
ton have appointed Capt. Jedidiah Hubbel, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Mr. Peter 
Pratt, Mr. Eleazer Curtis, jr., Capt. Joseph Carter, Nathan Eliot, esq., and 
Mr. Joseph Guthrie as a committee of oorrespondenee to receive the generous 
donations of the inhabitants of the town of Kent who are hereby appointed 



HISTORY OF KENT. 3 1 

to receive the same as soon as may be and to transmit the same to the 
committee of correspondence or selectmen of the town of Boston for the 
relief of the poor in Boston and to keep a free correspond and consult all 
matters relative to American affairs w^ith other committees in the neighbor- 
ing tovi^ns and colonies appointed for the above laudable purpose. Voted, 
that the town clerk transmit a copy of the votes of this meeting to the 
printers at New Haven to be inserted in the public paper." 

"At a town meeting legally warned and held on the 29th day of No^ 
vember, 1774, at one o'clock in the afternoon by the inhabitants of the town 
of Kent at the old meeting house in the first society in Kent. Voted, and 
made choice of Nathaniel Berry, moderator. Voted, that the resolves con- 
tained in the late Continental congress and recommended by the House of 
Representatives ought to be strictly and faithfully adhered to and observed." 

Shortly afterwards we find that instead of town meeting protests the 
inhabitants are shouldering the musket as the most practical way to solve 
the problem of independence. 

The first call upon the State militia for active service in the Revolu- 
tionary War was made in the summer of 1776, when Washington was in 
need of a large force to meet the enemy's threatened attack upon New 
York. Connecticut already had eight Continental and nine State regiments 
in the field, but she responded at once to an urgent request from the Com- 
mander-in-Chief to send down a portion of her militia. Two requisitions 
were issued. The first called out fourteen of the regiments lying west of 
the Connecticut River to serve from August until "the exigency should be 
over." Brig.-Gen. Oliver Wolcott was specially appointed to their com- 
mand. The second was a call for nine of the regiments lying east of the 
River to serve from September with Brig.-Gen. Gurdon Saltonstall in 
command. As these troops were hastily summoned, poorly armed and pro- 
vided for, and generally undisciplined, effective service could not be ex- 
pected of them. A few of the regiments were exposed to the first attack of 
the enemy on New York, Sept. 15, '76, and contributed to what is some- 
times described as the "panic" at Kips' Bay. Better troops would have 
found it difficult to withstand the shock. The experience proved a valua- 
ble one to the militiamen who were to be called out again more than once 
during the war. 

Later in the season when the enemy sent their ships up the Hudson to 
interrupt the American communications, Washington again requested Gov. 
Trumbull to send troops to the North River. The Governor thereupon is- 
sued a proclamation calling upon the militia and all able bodied within 
the State to equip themselves without loss of time and be ready to march 
upon the shortest notice as exigencies might require. 

In the early part of August, 1776, the two trainbands in this town and 
Captain Olmsted's company made up largely of the inhabitants of Kent and 
contiguous territory to the east and south were in New York. The two Kent 
companies were in the Thirteenth regiment. They had returned by the first 
of October following. The officers of the regiment and members of the 
three companies were: 

Colonel Benjamin Hinman, Woodbury, appointed before the war Colonel 

Continental army, succeeded in October '76 by 
Colonel Increase Mosely, Jr., Woodbury, profnoted October '76. 



32 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Canfield, New Milford, promoted Lieutenant 

Colonel October '76. 
Major Jethro Hatch, Kent, promoted Major October 76. 
Major William Cogswell, New Preston, Captain, promoted Major vice Hatch, 

May '81. 

CAPTAIN CARTER'S COMPANY. 



Captain .Joseph Carter, 
Lieutenant Eleazer Carter, 
Ensign Jna. Taylor, 
Clerk Joseph Pack, 
Sergeant Gershom Holmes, 
Sergeant Ephin Tanner, 
Sergeant Eleazer Finney, 
Sergeant Benoni Carter, 
Corporal Judah Hopkins, 
Corporal Philip Judd, 
Corporal Judah Eldridg, 
Corporal Asahel Wedge, 
Drummer Jos. Andrews, 
Fifer Alexander Sackett, 



Private Reuben Taylor, 
Private Israel Lee, 
Private Truman Gilbert, 
Private Philip Strong, 
Private Levi Swan, 
Private Thomas Beeman, 
Private Herman Brown, 
Private David Taylor, 
Private Benjamin Sprague, 
Private Benjamin Andrews, 
Private Eleazer Curtis, 
Private Chauncey Smith, 
Private Job Taylor, 
Private Isaac Wedge. 

CAPTAIN ABRAHAM FULLER'S COMPANY. 



Captain Abraham Fuller, • 
Lieutenant Lewis Mills, 
Clerk Philip Judd, 
Sergeant Abijah Hubbell, 
Sergeant Stephen Skiff, 
Sergeant Peleg Chamberlain, 
Sergeant Eleazer Chamberlain, 
Corporal Thomas Stevens, 
Corporal Joseph Bates, 
Drummer Thomas Avery. 
Fifer Ashbel Fuller, ■■ 
Private Isaac Darish, 
Private Ephrim Fuller, • 
Private John Bull, 
Private Daniel Dye, 

CAPTAIN 
Captain David Olmsted, 
First Lieutenant Lewis Mills, 
Second Lieutenant Edward Coll 
Ensign Silas Hubbel, 
Sergeant Edward Tyler, 
Sergeant Thomas Avery, 
Sergeant Abijah Bennerdict, 
Sergeant Samuel Hawley, 
Sergeant Alexander Sackett, 
Sergeant Seth Crawfut, 
Corporal Crag Celley, 
Corporal J(Jhn Berrey, 
Corporal Benjamin Brownson, 



Private Nathan Skiff, 
Private Ebenezer Halt, 
Private Levi Fairchild, 
Private Elijah Crane, 
Private Benjamin Merry, 
Private Wells Beardsley, 
Private William Trap, 
Private Silas Stuart, 
Private Silas Brownson, 
Private Samuel Andrews, 
Private Barnabas Hatch, 
Private David Lyon, 
Private Nathaniel Geer, 
Private Daniel Hall, 
Private Jonathan Maim. 

OLMSTED'S COMPANY. 

Corporal Ebenezer Judson, 
Drummer Josiah Edwards, 
ins, Fifer Bartlet Chamberlen, 
Private James Lyn, 
Private Daniel Beebe, 
Private James Lincoln, 
Private Cyrus Berrey, 
Private Ebenezer Lyon, 
Private Barabas Berrey, 
Private David Morris, 
Private John Bennet, 
Private Uriah Marvin, 
Private Edward Blackman, 



-v 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



33 



Samuel Nichols, 
Samuel Botsford, 
Jonathan Nash, 
Stephen Peck, 
Abel Peck, 
Oliver Parish, 
Benjamin Porter, 
William Rockwell, 
Silas Rockwell, 
Levy Rust, 
Joshua Raymond, 
Newcornb Raymond, 
Enoch Simons, 
Curtis Stoddard, 
Azarigh Smith, 
Deliverance Slawson, 
Peres Sturdivant, 
Benjamin Sacket, 
Nathaniel Spooner, 
Ely Smith, 
Hiram Summers, 
William Tanner, 
Reubin Taylor, 
David Walker, 
Solomon Warner, 
Lican Der Ourtis. 

In October, 1776, the near approach of the enemy to Kent, as well as 
the critical situation of the Continental army and the danger of the enemy 
cutting off all communication between the country and the army, the utmost 
speed was put forth to oppose the further inroad of the enemy. All able 
bodied men in the west part of the state were called out, including the 
Tenth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth regiments, those going from Kent of 
course chiefly belonging to the Thirteenth regiment which was under the 
command of Major G-eneral Wooster. 

In October, 1778, the state records say, "Upon the memorial of Nathan 
Sloper, of Kent, in the county of Litchfield, shewing to this Assembly that 
he, the said Sloper, was a soldier in Capt. Sacket's company in Colonel 
Hooker's regiment at the Peekskill in the year, 1777, and by reason of ill- 
ness was furlowed to the 13th of October, 1777, and then enabled to re- 
turn to said regiment, and that he received no wages from that time to the 
discharge of the regiment, as p-er memorial on file. 

Resolved by this Assembly, that the Committee of Pay-Table are direct- 
ed to pay to the memorialist the whole of his wages and bounty from said 
13th day of October till the discharge of said regiment, and draw on treas- 
urer of this state in his favour accordingly." 

In April, 1780, the Assembly appointed Stephen Barnes "to be a purchaser 
to procure fresh and salted beef, pork and flour and such other articles as 
shall be directed, agreeable to act of Assembly of this State passed this 
sessions, within the limits of New Fairfield, New Milford, Washington, 



Private Heman Comstock, 


Private 


Private David Allen, 


Private 


Private Truman Beeman, 


Private 


Private Richard China, 


Private 


Private Abel Comstock, 


Private 


Private Aaron Case, 


Private 


Private Levy Camp, 


Private 


Private Israel Chapman, 


Private 


Private Joel Engersoll, 


Private 


Private Benjamin Fowler, 


Private 


Private Abel Fuller, 


Private 


Private John Foot, 


Private 


Private James Frisbie, 


Private 


Private John Gilbard, 


Private 


Private John G-eer, 


Private 


Private William Hucker. 


Private 


Private Weight Hurlbut, 


Private 


Private Justice Hinman, 


Private 


Private Talcut Hawley, 


Private 


Private Samuel Hunt, 


Private 


Private William Hector, 


Private 


Private Gilead Hector, 


Private 


Private Peter Hines, 


Private 


Private Timothy Johnson, 


Private 


Private Matthew Keelor, 


Private 


Private Lewis Keelor, 


Private 



34 HISTORY OF KENT. 

and Kent exclusive of the parish of Greenwich, in said county of Litchfield." 
Capt. Moses Seymour was appointed purchaser for the same purpose for 
the towns of Litchfield, Goshen, Torrington, Harwinton and the parish of 
Greenwich, in Kent, in said County of Litchfield. 

In October, 1778, Jacob Bull of Kent presented a memorial to the Gen- 
eral Assembly which stated "that he is now confinjed in Litchfield county 
goal on a prosecution in favor of this state for aiding traitors to said state, 
and that he has been anxious for tryal to evince his innocence; praying that 
he might be liberated from his said confinement upon his procuring bonds 
for his appearing before the superior courts for tryal." 

It was resolved by the Assembly "that the memoralist be freed and lib- 
erated from his said confinement upon his acknowledging a recognizance in 
the sum of 300 pounds, lawful money, with one spomsible surety, before le- 
gal authority for his, the said memoirialist's personal appearance before the 
superior court to be holden at Litchfield in and for Litchfield county upon 
the last Tuesday save two of February next, to answer to the complaint on 
which he is now imprisoned, and that he shall be of peaceable and good 
behaviour in the meantime." 

When the British descended upon Danbury April 25-28, 1777, it is sup- 
posed the two Kent companies both went to the defense of its neighboring 
town. The records are not explicit about Captain Abraham Fuller's com- 
pany, but it is known that he himself drew pay for his services from the 
state and that Lewis Mills was recompensed for his time lost in the hospital, 
both claiming to have been at Danbury at this time. The evidence that Cap- 
tain Carter's company took part is furnished by the following memorial and 
resolution of the General AsBembly at the May session, 1778: 

"Upon the memorial of John Wedge, of Kent, in the county of Litchfield 
and state of Connecticut, showing to this Assembly that on or about the 27th 
of April last the memorialist belonging to Captain Joseph Carter's company 
was required by said Captain Carter to march with the rest of said company 
in the utmost haste on horseback for the relief of the town of Danbury, when 
invaded by the British troops: the memoralist and several others left their 
horses with a guard, pursued the enemy on foot and the memorialist's horse 
was unfortunately lost, and, notwithstanding the utmost pains and cost rea- 
sonable, can never hear anything of said horse since; praying this Assembly 
to give an order upon the treasurer of the state to draw so much money out 
of the treasury as this Assembly shall think may be a reasonable recom- 
pense, or some other way relieve the memorialist. Resolved by this Assem- 
bly that the sum of £9 — 15 — be allowed to the memoiralist out of the 
treasury of this state." 

Six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence we find 
that one of the first persons to enlist from Kent was John Brown, who 
may by his example have stimulated his namesake in years long afterward 
to strike the first blow for freedom in another cause. He enlisted for three 
years January 14, 1777, in Colonel Beardsley's regiment and joined in 
August that same year what was known as the Georgia battery. He was 
followed on the 26th of the same month by John Warren, who joined Colonel 
Chapman. Other enlistments took place rapidly and the town was well rep- 
resented throughout the revolutionary war. Three soldiers, Isaac Pennell, 
David Ivoff and Seth Rowley were with Colonel Seth Warner's regiment at 
Fort George, New York, when nearly all were killed or taken prisoners. 



V 



HISTORY OF KENT. 35 

The town appointed in 1777 Nathaniel Berry, Reuben Murray, Eliphalet 
Comstock, Josiah Camp, Jehosaphat Eldrid and Reuben Sackett a commit- 
tee to provide for soldiers' families, and another committee was appoint- 
ed to provide them with clothing. 

In 1778 Moses Knapp was released by a vote of the town from paying 
one-half of £120 for not going out in a draft. 

In 1780 it was voted "That this town will secure the wages of all the 
soldiers that shall hereafter enlist into the services of this or the United 
States or that shall be draughted or detached, at the cost of this town into 
the services and see the same paid at 40 shillings per month equivalent to 
wheat at 4 shillings per bushel for each month they shall continue in said 
service including the pay wages of the state and also a premium of 10 shil- 
lings like money per month provided they will equip themselves accord- 
ing to law with arms, blankets, etc., provided the same shall not be paid by 
this state or the United States. 

"That those lately drafted for six and three months services respec- 
tively shall be included in the above vote." 

The next vote was to select a committee tO' obtain recruits to fill up the 
line in the Continental army agreeable to a late act of the general assem- 
bly. To encourage the enlistment of soldiers the town voted "That there 
shall be paid out of the treasury of the town of Kent unto Capt. Peter 
Mills, Capt. Abraham Fuller, Peleg Sturtevant and Capt. Joseph Carter, 
provided they shall procure five able-bodied, effective men, or any number 
under five to enlist into either of the Connecticut battalions in the Conti- 
nental army for three years or during the war, such sum or sums of 
money as shall be necessary to make good each soldier's wages with the 
continental wages equal to forty shillings per month estimated at the price 
of wheat at four shillings per bushel to be paid the first day of July an- 
nually. Also that the committee have liberty to agree and pay to the 
above mentioned soldiers twenty-six shillings per month in addition to 
the continental wages to be paid by this town in lieu of the above provided 
they shall choose it." 

In 1781 a committee was appointed to class the town to fill up the state's 
regiment agreeable to a late vote of the assembly, and Ephriam Fuller, 
Gertham Holmes and Peter Waller were appointed a committee to procure 
clothing for the soldiers serving in the army. 

Benjamin Ackley, Major Jethro Hatch, Nathaniel Hatch, John Ransom, 
jr., Nathaniel Berry, Joseph Carter, and John Brownson were appointed a 
committtee to divide the town into two classes and to hire a recruit for 
each class into the Connecticut line in the Continental army and make a 
rate on the inhabitants to defray the charge and collect the same. 

Major Eleazer Curtis was to procure the proper evidence for the claim 
the town had to three men usually credited to the town but at that time 
excluded by the assembly. 

The next action was to suspend the vote in July respectlag the raising 
of soldiers' wages. 

The last record relating to the revolutionary war was February 20, 
1782, when it was voted "That we will raise six men for this state according 
to the requisition of the general assembly. That the men be raised by class- 
ing the inhabitants." 



36 HISTORY OF KENT. 

Ic will be seen that from the commenoement until the finish of the war 
Kent was loyal and steadfast, never wavering, but bearing its share of the 
burden with its neighboring towns. The roster of its soldiers is as follows: 

Stephen Barnum enlisted in Col. Beardsley's company April 21, 1777; 
reduced July 20, 1780; promoted sergeant Aug., 1780; discharged April 5, 
1781. 

Daniel Avery enlisted with Col. Woodridge, March 3, 1777 for three 
years; discharged March 15, 1780. 

John Brown enlisted with Col. Beardsley January 14, 1777, for three 
years; joined Georgia battery, August, 1777. 

Samuel Bates enlisted with Col. Beardsley March 15, 1777, during war, 
corp. ( . ) reduced. 

Lemuel Bemont enlisted with Col. Chapman February 19, 1777. during 
war, disabled June 1779. rejoined regiment January, 1781. 

Matthias Beman enlisted with Col. Chapman January 31, 1777, during 
war, promoted corporal May 9, 1780. 

John Barlow enlisted with Colonel Chapman August 12, 1777, during 
war. 

Samuel Chamberlain enlisted with Col. Chapman March 22, 1777, during 
war. 

John Cobb joined from Putnam's regiment August 6, 1778, promoted cor- 
poral August, 1780. 

Elijah Chapman enlisted with Col. Beardsley March 11. 1777, during 
war. 

David Danes, enlisted with Col. Warner April 2, 1777, three years, dis- 
charged May 31, 1780. 

Joseph Dickinson enlisted with Col. Beardsley March 15, 1777, during 
war; appointed corporal September 1, 1777; transferred to quartermaster- 
general department July 1, 1781. 

Prentice Fitch enlisted with Col. Beardsley February 22, 1777, during 
war, appointed corporal August, 1780. 

Samuel Fairchild enlisted with Beardsley March 15, 1777, three years, 
discharged March 14, i780. 

Cuff Freeman enlisted with Beardsley September 4, 1777, during war. 

Call Freeman enlisted with Beardsley September 4, 1777, during war. 

Benjamin Lampkin enlisted with Hills April 29, 1778, three years, dis- 
charged April 22, 1780. 

Asa Sprague enlisted with Hills February 10, 1778, during war. 

John Warren enlisted with Chapman January 26, 1777 during war, dis- 
abled April 6, 1779; rejoined and discharged December 19, 1780. 

Elihu Waters enlisted with Col. Samuel B. Webb June 13, 1778, paid to 
1780. 

Isaac Pennell enlisted with Col. Seth Warner December 5, 1779, taken 
prisoner October 11, 1780; exchanged before January, 1783. 

David Loff enlisted with Col. Seth Warner Janiiary 22, 1780. 

Seth Rowley enlisted with Seth Warner January 1, 1777; dead or dis- 
charged December 31, 1879. 

David Thayer enlisted with Col. Moses Hazen January 1, 1777; discharged 
January 1, 1781. 

Capt. Ebenezer Hill (Greenwich or Kent) enlisted 7th regiment April 14, 
1780: discharged April 23, 1783. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 37 

Ebenezer Hill jr., enlisted 7th regiment November 1, 1777, three years. 

Ebenezer Porgues enlisted January 18, 1783, three years'. 

Nathan Wheeler enlisted January 27, 1781, three years. 

Samuel Ingraham enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, December 19, 
1780, during war. 

Calvin Buckley enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, November 28, 
1783, during war. 

Stephen Morey enlisted 2d regiment. Connecticut line. December, 1779, 
during war. 

Sergt. Amos Barnum enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, November 
15, 1777, during war. 

Reander Chamberlain enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, April 21, 
1782, three years. 

Heman Carter, enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, February 2, 1781. 

Swift Chamberlain enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, February 2, 
1781. 

Rogers Lake enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, February 3, 1781. 

Newoomb Raymont enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, June 29, 1780, 
three years. 

Philetus Swift enlisted 2d regiment, Connecticut line, February 2, 1781, 
three years. 

Elijah Gray, Reuben Peck and Ezra Fairchild were in Col. Canfield's 
militia regiment. 

In Captain Smith's company, March 22, 1781, these members were from 
Kent: Peter Drew, John Oakland, Daniel Succamux, James Sprague, Clark 
Beement, Comfort Thomson. 

Lieut. Stephen Dodge belonged to the provisional regiment in 1781. 
This regiment was raised to go to Washington's aid should he call for it. 

Captain Jeriah Swift was a member of Colonel Burrall's regiment, and 
was reported dead in September, 1776. 

Lieut. Ebenezer Tanner was a member of the Connecticut Cincinnati so- 
ciety. 

In 1840 there were living in Kent these pensioners: Michael Bailey, 
aged 96; Naomi Burton, 92; Silas Leonard, 83; Joseph Seger, 82; Elias Tay- 
lor, 87; David Whitehead, 75; Tracy Beeman, 78; Daniel Stone. 81 

Judd, 92. 

There is a cave among the rocks in a continuation of Bull's mountain in 
South Kent. It is on the side or rather foot of the mountain and it is said 
furnished an admirable hiding place in revolutionary times. The cave is 
a room about 15x20 feet and six feet high, all of solid rock. It shows traces 
of fire, and the rock has been heated until it has scaled off in places. A 
number of relics have been found there from time to time. 

It is said that a company of continental troops were encamped about 
half a mile from this cave, and a lady (Mrs. Charles Northrup of New Mil- 
ford) says that her great grandfather, Johnathan Bull, entertained a number 
of British officers one winter who, it is said, were sent there with a squad of 
British soldiers to protect Stephen Stuart, at that time in hiding, and that 
a skirmish actually took place between them and the Americans. 

The war of 1812 seems mainly to have called forth expression at a town 
meeting as only one soldier can be found enlisting from Kent. The records 



38 HISTORY OF KENT. 

State "a town meeting was called to advise together relative to the alarm- 
ing situation of our country in general and of this state in particular and see 
whether it is not expedient to request a convention of the general court. 
Lewis Mills, Hopson Pratt, El-^astus Chamberlain, Nathaniel P. Perry, Henry 
Standard, and John Raymond were appointed to draft resolutions which were 
forwarded to the government." The one name credited to Kent is that of 
Solomon Chamberlain who enlisted May 13, 1813, in the Seventh Infantry, the 
date of his discharge not being known. 

In the Mexican war the only name found is that of Samuel D. Canfield, 
who joined Companies A and I of the Ninth Infantry, April 7, 1847, and was 
wounded August 20, 1847, at Churubusco, Mexico, when he was discharged. 

The firing on Fort Sumter awoke in the hearts of the people of Kent 
the slumbering military fire that had descended from the forefathers of 1770. 
It was the talk of the town, and a public meeting was called April 29, 1861, 
for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of voting supplies 




OFFICERS SF.COND CONNECTICUT HEAVY ARTILLERY, FOR WHICH 
KENT RECRUITED FORTY-FIVE MEN. 

to all who would volunteer into the service of the United States and go to 
the seat of war, to vote ample supplies to support the families of such volun- 
teers, and to equip a respectable volunteer force. The matter was discussed 
but no action taken at this time. The summer came and before it had 
passed enlistments were the order of the day. Enthusiasm ran wild and 
between the 9th of August and the 21st of September a goodly number had 
joined Company D, Tenth regiment, under Captain Lewis Judd of Roxbury. 
The Tenth left Hartford in October, 1861, and after reaching Annapolis, Md., 
was assigned to Burnside's command. It was in the battle of Roanoke 
Island, N. C, February, 1862 where Col. Charles L. Russell was killed 
while gallantly leading the regiment in a charge; and Leman S. Lane was 
wounded from which he died in April, 1862. At the battle of Newbern, a few 
weeks later the Tenth lost twenty-three killed and wounded. December 14 it 
lost 106 offic/ers and men in the battle at Kinston, N. C. ; and two days later it 
was in the skirmish at Whitehall. March 28, 1863, the regiment was in the 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



39 



battle of Seabrook Island, S. C, and remained in the neighborhood of Charles- 
ton until late in the fall. Having removed to Florida, the Tenth, in Decem- 
ber, met with severe losses in the fight at St. Augustine. In the spring of 
1864 the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and at once took active part in 
the closing campaign of the war. It was in the engagement of Walthall 
Junction, Drury's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, 
Deep Run, Petersburg, Laurel-Hill Church, New Market Road, ^nd at Hatch- 
er's Run, and at Appomattox Court-House in 1865. It was mustered out 
August 25, 1865. Henry L. V. Mairel was killed at Fort Gregg, Va., April 2, 
1865. 

No sooner was Company D of the Tenth off than enlistments were made 
in Company C of the Thirteenth regiment under Captain C. D. Blinn of New 
Milford. This company was known as the Lyon Guards and was composed 
of thirty-six men from Kent, seventeen from Sharon and eight from Goshen 
and others from Salisbury, Canaan, and New Milford. The Thirteenth was 
the last regiment raised under the call for 500,000 men. It was organized in 




THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. 



the fall of 1861 and remained in barracks at New Haven during the following 
winter. Henry W. Birge of Norwich was its first colonel. The regiment left 
Connecticut in March, 1862, and joined the expedition in command of General 
Butleir. After entering New Orleans in May it was selected to do provost 
duty. In the fall it was again in active service under Butler and Banks, 
and took part in the fight at Irish Bend .n-pril 14, 1863, where Ira Marshall 
was wounded and at Port Hudson, La., June i4, where Frank E. Waldron re- 
ceived mortal injuries from which he died on the 19th. In the fall of 1864 
the regiment was sent to join the forces of Sheridan in the Shenandoah. It 
was in the battles of Opequan, Winchester and Fisher's Hill. At Winchester 
Willis Barnes, Homer M. Welch and Wm. H. Murphy were captured by the 
rebels, Barnes and Welch dying at Salisbury, N. C, while Oliver Potter was 
killed in the battle; Sergeant Joseph H. Pratt was wounded and died the fol- 
lowing April. Colonel Birge was promoted to be brigadier general in 1863 and 
Captain C. D. Blinn of New Milford was appointed colonel. In January, 1864, 
O'Ut of 406 men present on duty, 400 were ready to re-enlist. The regiment 
was reduoed to five companies and called "The Veteran Battalion, Thirteenth 



40 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



C. v.," and Lieutenant-Colonel Homer B. Sprague was put in command. It 
was mustered out April 25, 1866. 

The Nineteenth was a Litchfield county regiment, afterwards changed 
to the Second regiment, C. V. H. A. It was recruited in the summer of 1862. 
Kent furnished twenty-four men for Company B, Capt. James Hubbard of 
Salisbury and twenty-one for Company H, Captain George S. Williams of New 
Milford. It left Litchfield in September for Washinigton, and was stationed 
at Alexandria. During 1863 it was engaged in garrison duty in forts on the 
south of the Potomac, near Washington. The regiment was brought to a 
high state of efficiency under the command of Colonel Elisha S. Kellogg of 
Derby; and in May, 1864, it joined the Sixth Army Corps in Virginia. In 
the sad slaughter at Cold Harbor June 1 Colonel Kellogg was killed and the 
total loss of the regiment 285 killed, wounded and missing. Among the 
number was Jerome Johnson, who was wounded June 1 and died June 16; 
Henry C. Straight, killed: Edwin Harrington, wounded; Uriah F. Snedeker, 




iKK.AUK A 1 l;lA)Oll\ A.\(,1.K 



wounded; George Chamberlain, wounded; Solomon Hinckley, wounded; Dan- 
iel O. Page, captured; George A. Skiff, killed; William Barton, killed. Fol- 
lowing the fortunes of the gallant Sixth coi-ps, the regiment was in the 
battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, Va. In February, 
1865, it was in the engagement of Hatcher's Run, and, in March and April, 
near Petersburg and at Sailor's Creek. The casualties which it suffered tell the 
story of its noble service. It was mustered out at Washington. D. C, August 
18, 1865. 

As the roster will show Kent men were to be found in many other regi- 
ments, and it is probable that no other town in the state, population con- 
sidered, suffered such a large percentage of its soldiers killed oir wounded. 

The town was liberal in offering bounties, and on August 7, 1862, voted 
$100 to each volunteer, not to exceed thirty in number, and on the 16th it 
was voted to not have any limit. July 27, 1863, $300 was voted to each man 
drafted. August 10, 1864, under the call for 500,000 troops it was voted to 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



41 



offer $500 tO' each volunteer or to any one who furnished a substitute. At 
this time the grand list was $643,539. There was expended for bounties, 
and support of families $20,000, and it is estimated tnat $3,750 was paid out 
by private individuals for volunteers and sul)stitutes. The following is the 
roster of soldiers: 

COMPANY A, FIRST REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
David Donnelly, enlisted Dec. 3, 1864; deserted July 29, 1865. 

COMPANY B, FIRST REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
Eugene Erb, enlisted Aug. 13, 1864; mustered out Sept. 25, 1865. 
COMPANY F, FIRST REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
Felix Dupont, enlisted Dec. 6, 1864; deserted July 28, 1865. 

COMPANY A, SECOND REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
William Barton, enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; killed June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. 
Robert Elill, enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 




.SUKl'KISK AT CEOAK CREEK 



COMPANY B, SECOND REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
Dwight Hallock, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; dischavged July 7, 1865. 
Charles B. Benedict, enlisted Aug. 5, 1862; discharged May 18, 1865. 
Curtis Hall, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; promoted Sergeant Feb. 13, 1864; wounded 

Oct. 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va. Discharged July 7, 1865. 
Myron R. Sterry, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; killed June 1, 1865, Cold Harbor, Va. 
James S. Thayer, enlisted Aug. 14, 1862; discharged disabled Jan. 24, 1863. 
George L. Sterry, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
John W. Ward, enlisted Aug. 14, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Walston W. Peck, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Robert W. Ames, enlisted Jan. 4, 1864; wounded Oct. 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, 

Va. Died Nov. 5, 1864. 
Martin A. Besler, enlisted July 7, 1862; discharged Aug. 18, 1865. 
James Burnes, enlisted Aug. 19, 1862; discharged June 13, 1865. 
Lewis Burton, enlisted Aug. 20, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 



42 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Almeron Burton, enlisted Jan. 4. 1864; died Oct. 1. 1864. 

Silas Burton, enlisted Jan. 4, 1864; mustered out Aug. 31, 1865. 

Joseph E. Dewey, enlisted Aug. 14, 1862; discharged July 12, 1865. 

Luther Hall, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 

Solomon Hinckley, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862; wounded June 1, 1864, Cold Har- 
bor, Va. Discharged July 7, 1865. 

William H. Ingraham, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862; discharged disabled Feb. 12, 
1863. 

Henry M. Marshall, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; discharged disabled Feb. 12, 1863. 

Lewis Mory, enlisted Aug. 9, 1862; wounded Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. 
Discharged disabled June 9, 1865. 

Daniel 0. Page, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; captured June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, 
Va. Paroled Nov. 20, 1864. Discharged May 18, 1865. 

Charles H. Segur, enlisted Aug. 9, 1862; ki'led June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. 

George R. Skiff, enlisted Jan. 4, 1864; killed June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. 

Henry Sterry, enlisted Aug. 19, 1862; discharged disabled Apr. 3, 1863. 

Horace N. Thorp, enlisted Sept. 12, 1864; mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 



5if--**r4-'" 



-ainnWUh. •«. . J-i 




A^4lf<^iti^J:-\ 






riif'Z 




KXI'I.OSION OK THE MINE AT l'ETEKSI;UKi; 



John White, enlisted Aug. 12, 1864; sentenced by G. C. M. Nov. 2, 1864, to 
one year confinement for absence without leave. 

COMPANY E, SECOND REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
Harmon Clark, enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 
Edwin D. Beman, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; promoted First Sergeant, March 1, 

1865; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Geo. H. McBirney, enlisted Aug. 9, 1862; promoted Sergeant Feb. 13,1864; killed 

June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. 
Edgar J. Stuart, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; wounded June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, 

Va. Discharged June 9, 1865. 
John Birch, enlisted Jan. 4, 1864; died July 31, 1864. 
Hiram L. Bronson, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Henry Murphy, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862; discharged disabled Nov. 3, 1862. 
Allen Sawyer, enlisted Aug. 13, 1862; discharged July 17, 1865. 
Alonzo Stuart, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; discharged disabled June 29, 1863. 
Ira Warner, enlisted Aug. 20, 1862;; deserted Apr. 13, 1863. 



HISTORY OF KKNT. 



43 



COMPANY G. SECOND RKC.IMKNT, C. V. 
Harvey Clark, enlisted Aug. 8, 18t>2; died Jan. IS, ISCa. 

COMPANY H, SI'X'ONl) RECIMENT, C. V. H. A. 
Myron M. Jennings, enlisted June 13, 1864; nuisK red out .'\ug. 18, ISOn. 
Jerome Johnson, enlisted Aug. 7, 18(52; wounded June 1. 18(jl. Cold Harbor, 

Va. Died June 16, 1864. 
Jarin W. Monroe, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; discharged disabled Fcij. 16, 1863. 
Henry Murphy, 2nd, enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; discharged disabled Apr. IS, 

1864. 
Hiram Murphy, enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; discharged June 15, 1865. 
Alanson Peet, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Lauren Peet, enlisted Aug. 14, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
John Rodgers. enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; discharged Aug. 1, 1865. 
Orville R. Sawyer, enlisted Aug. 13, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Daniel T. Somers, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; wounded Oct. 19. 1864, Cedar Creek. 

Va. Discharged June 22, 1865. 
Lewis St. John, enlisted Aug. 9, 1862; discharged Mar. 12, 1863. 




TllK IwVTTI.K 0|- TlIK (KATKK. 



Henry C. Straight, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862: killed Juno 1. IStll. Cold Harbor, 

Va. 
Henry J. Thompson, enlisted June 4, 1864; mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 
George Wedge, enlisted Sept. 16, 1863; mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 
Allen G. Winegar, enlisted Nov. 18, 1863; deserted July 31. 1865. 
Lewis S. Young, enlisted Aug. 5, 1862; discharged July 7. 1865. 
Edwin Harrington, enlisted Sept. 16, 1863; wounded June 1. 1864, Cold 

Harbor: mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. 
Daniel G. Marshall, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Anson R. Nichols, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Stephen Snedeker, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; discharged May 31, 186."). 
Uriah F. Snedeker, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; woundetl June 1, Cold Harbor. 

Va., discharged disabled July 7, 1865. 
William H. Thompson, enlisted August 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Harmon T. Edwards, enlisted Aug. 9. 1862; discharged July 7. 1865. 



44 HISTORY OF KENT 

Hiram Cable, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; wounded Sept. 19, 1864, Wincehster, Va.; 

discharged disabled May 8, 1865. 
George Chamberlain, enlisted Aug. 8, 1862; wounded June 1, 1864, Cold 

Harbor; discharged disabled, June 3, 1865. 
Henry Fry, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 
Cyrus Howland, enlisted Aug. 11, 1862; discharged June 1, 1865. 
Elroy S. Jennings, enlisted Aug. 7, 1862; discharged July 7, 1865. 

COMPANY M, SECOND REGIMENT. 
Myron Odell, enlisted Aug. 17, 1864; deserted July 2, 1865. 

COMPANi G, FIFTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
John Lee. enlisted Aug. 14, i863; deserted Oct. 2, 1863. 
James McCabe, enlisted Aug. 14, 1863; discharged July 14, 1865. 

COMPANY I, SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY. 
Arthur Seymour, enlisted Nov. 29, 1864; mustered out July 20, 1865. 
James Griffin, enlisted November 29, 1864; mustered out July 20, 1865. 

COMPANY C, EIGHTH REGIMENT, C. V. H. A. 

William Brown, enlisted Nov. 19, 1864; discharged Nov. 11, 1865. 

COMPANY G, EIGHTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
John S. Lane, enlisted Sept. 14, 1861; promoted Second Lieutenant Sept. 29, 
1863; discharged Oct. 14, 1864. 

COMPANY I, EIGHTH REGIMENT. 

Frederick Stevenson, enlisted Sept. 21,1861; discharged disabled Jan. 9, 1863. 
Ebenezer Thayer, enlisted Sept. 21, 1861; discharged Sept. 20, 1864. 

COMPANY B, TENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
Frederick McArdle, enlisted Dec. 9, 1864; mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. 

COMPANY D, TENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
Ausitin L. Frink, corporal, enlisted Sept. 21, 1861; discharged disabled Feb. 

12, 1863. 
Luman Hoag, corporal, enlisted Sept. 5, 1861; discharged Sept. 30, 1864. 
Lewis Murphy, corporal, enlisted Aug. 20, 1861; deserted March 23, 1864. 
Louis Pouslett, corporal, enlisted Oct. 1, 1861; mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. 
Simeon M. Walling, musician, enlisted Aug. 24, 1861; mustered out Aug. 25, 

1865. 
George C. Austin, enlisted Sept. 9, 1861; died May 8, 1862. 
Frank Friar, enlisted Aug. 21, 1861; discharged disabled July 7, 1865. 
Oliver Friar, enlisted Aug. 21, 1861; discharged Oct. 1, 1864. 
Elmore F. Jenks, enlisted Sept. 9, 1861; discharged Oct. 7, 1864. 
Henry F. Johnson, enlisted Aug. 21, 1861; mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. 
Leman G. Lane, enlisted Aug. 21, 1861; wounded Feb. 1862, Roanoke Island, 

N. C. Died Apr. 1, 1862. 
Henry L. V. Mairel, enlisted Sept. 10, 1861; killed Apr. 2, 1865, Fort Gregg, 

Virginia. 
Alfred Murphy, enlisted Sept. 12, 1861; discharged Aug. 5, 1865. 
George Odell, enlisted Aug. 21, 1861; discharged Sept. 30, 1864. 
Harvey Sterry, enlisted Sept. 18, 1861; discharged disabled July 11, 1862. 



^y> 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



45 



COMPANY E, TENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
Michael McNab, enlisted Nov. 23, 1864 deserted June 10, 1865. 
COMPANY G, TENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 

Stephen Wood, enlisted Dec. 22, 1864; transferred to Provost Marshal, R. C, 
May 5, 1865. 

COMPANY H, TENTH REGIMENT. 
Franz Peter, enlisted Nov. 26, 1864; deserted June 11, 1865. 

COMPANY G, ELEVENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
Michael Mullins, enlisted Nov. 28, 1864; deserted July 14, 1865. 
COMPANY K, ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 

Michael O'Conor, enlisted Nov. 26, 1864; deserted Feb. 15, 1865. 
William Stanley, enlisted Nov. 25, 1864; mustered out Dec. 21, 1865. 



?'%:^^«^ 



fp^a^t^^ 



^"lo&m 




KF-IinUT;T II, NKAR FORT ALEXANDRIA, VA. 

COMPANY C. THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, C. V. 
Andrew J. Austin, enlisted Nov. 4, 1861; deserted Aug. 26, 1864. 
Willis Barnes, enlisted Jan. 8, 1862; captured Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. 

Died Dec. 8, 1864, Salisbury, N. C. 
Hobby Brown, enlisted Dec. 23, 1861; mustered out Apr. 25, 1862. 
John Carpenter, enlisted Nov. 19, 1861; discharged disabled May 31, 1862. 
John Clark, enlisted Dec. 16, 1861; died Aug. 6, 1862. 
Reuben H. Douglas, enlisted Nov. 7, 1861; died Sept. 4, 1862. 
Homer Hall, enlisted Nov. 11, 1861; discharged disabled March 9. 1864. 
Seneca Hammond, enlisted Nov. 25, 1861; mustered out Apr. 25, 1866. 
John B. Hutchins, enlisted Nov. 20, 1861; discharged disabled May 29, 1863. 
Ezra S. Marshall enlisted Nov. 7, 1861; discharged disabled June 30, 1862. 
Ira Marshall, enlisted Nov. 6, 1861; wounded Apr. 14, 1863, Irish Bend, Va. 

Discharged Jan. 6, 1865. 
Charles Mitchell, enlisted Dec. 20, 1861; died Oct. 11, 1864. 
Oliver Potter, enlisted Oct. 30, 1861; killed Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. 
Francis Quain, enlisted Nov. 20, 1861; discharged disabled May 31, 1862. 
William H. Reynolds, enlisted Nov. 11, 1861; died May 14, 1862. 
John Roach, enlisted Nov. 26, 1861; died Aug. 18, 1862. 



iij 



46 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Everett E. Dunbar, enlisted Nov. 16. 1801; promoted Second Lieutenant Jan. 
8. 18G5. 

Elias P. Scott, enlisted Nov. 14, 1861; killed June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. 

John N. Duncan, enlisted Oct. 30, 1861; (First Sergeant) discharged disabled 
May 13, 1863. 

Joseph H. Pratt, enlisted Nov. 11, 1861; (First Sergeant) promoted Corporal 
Sept. 24, 1863; wounded Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Died Apr. 13, 1866. 

Homer M. Welch, enlisted Oct. 28, 1861; (Sergeant) promoted Sept. 24, 1863; 
captured Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Died Dec. 31, 1864, Salisbury, 
N. C. 

Edwin Evetts, enlisted Dec. 23, 1861; (Corporal) promoted Mar. 16, 1864; de- 
serted Aug. 26, 1864. 

William H. Murphy, enlisted Oct. 30, 1861; (Corporal) promoted Mar. 4, 1864; 
captured Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Paroled Feb. 27, 1865. Dis- 
charged Dec. 22, 1865. 

I. F. Nettleton, enlisted Oct. 21, 1861; died Sept. 27, 1862. 

William H. Odell, enlisted Oct. 30, 1861; (Corporal) promoted Sept. 24, 1863; 
discharged Aug. 26, 1864. 







UNION BREASTWORKS AT COI.l) HARBOR. 



24, 



Frederick W. Pender, enlisted Nov. 7, 1861; (Corporal) promoted Sept. 

1863; discharged Aug. 26, 1864. 
Simon Potter, enlisted Oct. 28, 1861; (Corporal) discharged disabled Sept. 7, 

1862. 
Orange Smith, enlisted Nov. 20, 1861; (Corporal) promoted Nov. 30, 1864; 

discharged Jan. 6, 1865. 
Albert G. Williams, enlisted Nov. 20, 1801; (Corporal) died Nov. 11, 1862. 
Benjamin Walker, enlisted Feb. 6„ 1862; (Corporal) discharged disabled May 

31, 1862. 
Mortimer H. Scott, enlisted Nov. 23, 1861; deserted Aug. 26, 1864. Enlisted 

Aug. 30, 1864 under name of Henry Simpson in Company K, Seventh reg- 
iment, N. Y. Heavy Art.; discharged June 17, 1865. 
Vivant Stowe, enlisted Jan. 8, 1862; killed May 9, 1864. 

Frederick Stuart, enlisted Nov. 30, 1861; discharged disabled April 16, 1864. 
Herman Stuart, enlisted Dec. 16, 1861; mustered out April 25, 1866. 
William H. Teneyck, enlisted Dec. 23, 1861; discharged disabled May 13, 1863. 
Daniel Thompson, enlisted Nov. 13, 1861; mustered out Apr. 25, 1866. 
Frederick E. Waldron, enlisted Nov. 18, 1861; wounded June 14, 1863, Port 

Hudson, La. Died June 19, 1863. 
H. Stowe, enlisted Feb. 13, 1864; died Dec. 8, 1864. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 47 

Such a roll of honor any town might be proud of. To perpetuate the mem- 
ory of these noble heroes there was unveiled June 11, 1886, a monument at 
the intersection of the roads in front of the Episcopal church. It is Quincy 
granite and cost $4,000. The chairman of the occasion was Rev. E. S. Porter. 
On the cap of the monument is inscribed the coat of arms of the state of Con- 
necticut with the motto "Qui transtulit sustinet." On the die are cut these 
words: "A tribute of honor and gratitude to her citizens who fought for lib- 
erty 1861-65." Chiseled on the base are these words: "Erected by the peo- 
ple of Kent, 1885." 

The speakers of the day were Hon. B. G. Northrop, Rev. E. P. Payson of 
Ansonia, Rev. W. W. Andrews of Wethersfield, Rev. T. J. Lee of New Mil- 
ford, and Hon. Charles B. Andrews of Litchfield. In his address Mr. An- 
drews asked the "people of Kent to go back to the summer of 1861 and re- 
call the wave of patriotism that swept over the country. Nevertheless en- 
listments were at first few. It was not until after the battle of Bull Run 
that the patriotic heart was touched to the bottom. The first time that men 
were enlisted from Kent was when a man from Roxbury enlisted men for the 
Tenth regiment. 

"What a sensation of strangeness was felt by us who watched those who 
marched up amd down our streets. In the autumn of 1861 it was proposed 
to raise a company or part of a company. Isaac F. Nettleton, a popular 
man, whose genial and kindly voice will be remembered, did the recruiting. 
The speaker administered the preliminary oath then as a magistrate. On 
the night before the Thirteenth regiment enlisted— it was early in November 
of that year— Rev. Mr. Scudder delivered an address. You remember with 
what pathos Mr. Scudder bid you farewell, how he repeated the stanzas of 
Dr. Holmes' battle poem. The speaker recalled among them Homer Welsh, 
noblest of the noble, who fell in the Shenandoah valley on the day when 
there was a morning of disaster and a night of victory, and 'Sheridan was 
twenty miles away.' There was another man, Reuben Douglas (laughter 
by many of the audience) a man of rollicking, indifferent disposition, who 
went into war in the lightest-hearted way, which had been his for forty 
years. It is doubtful if he ever had a serious thought. When he was before 
a justice of the peace and was asked by a cross-examining lawyer whether he 
ever drank he replied that he always did when he could get snow to eat. 
He never returned from the war. 

"In the summer of 1862 recruiting took a definite form and an entire 
regiment was raised in Litchfield county. It was the Nineteenth regiment, 
afterwards the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Captain Frank Berry 
and Ezra M. Merwin, each energetic and capable, raised fifty-four men in this 
vicinity. All through that summer the sound of the fife and drum was heard 
all through this valley, and the air is still tremulous with the memories of 
those who went to war. Over 1,000 were recruited for the Second Artillery. 

"The first baptism of fire was at Cold Harbor, when over 400 men of the 
sons and brothers of Litchfield county were killed or wounded. There was 
one dead in every household. Still the regiment went on and did their duty, 
not only at Cold Harbor, but at Winchester and entirely through the war 
until the surrender at Appomattox. We are indebted to the 54,000 sons of 
Connecticut who braved battle and the prison pen and each succeeding year 
makes the debt of gratitude greater." 




CONGRliGATlO.NAl. CHL'KCII, KENT. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CHURCHES. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN IS PRINCIPALLY THAT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH, ONE OF THE FIRST ACTS ON RECORD BEING TO LAY A TAX OF 4D. PER 
ACRE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. 

The early history of the town is principally that of the Congregational 
church, for at that time the town and church were inseparable. The act of 
incorporation was passed in October, 1738, and a tax of 4d. an acre for four 
years was laid on all divided lands for the support of the ministry. In Oc- 
tober, 1743, it was ordered that a tax at 2d. an acre on all unimproved land, 
except college, ministry, and school lands, be laid for the support of minis- 
ter and meeting house. 

The church was organized by the neighboring churches of Sharon and 
New Milford, on April 29, 174l. It consisted of eleven male members, in- 
cluding Cyrus, Marsh, who became the first pastor. The others were Samuel 
Lewis, Daniel Comstock, Azariah Pratt, Ebenezer Lyman, Samuel Bates, 
Ebenezer Barnum, Abel Wright, Nathaniel Berry, Joseph Fuller^ Gideon Bar- 
num.. Settlers came in so fast that before the close of the year fifty-three 
were added to the church, chiefly by letter. 

In an historical address Rev. B. M. Wright furnished the information 
which follows, it being so complete, the author quotes it verbatim: 

It is said the pioneers located on East Mountain, directly back of what 
now is called Good Hill. If so, they soon moved down and occupied Good 
Hill and Flanders. The "Great Plain" was thought to be swampy and 
worthless; it was near the Indians, too, who hunted over it at will. There 
is a tradition that Daniel Comstock, while out hunting, fell in with the In- 
dian chief and treated him to "fire-water." This was the beginning of a 
friendship of great value to the whites. Comstock put up a building on the 
site of the present Botsford Fuller house, which served as store, dwelling 
house, and church. The store and dwelling apartments were on the first 
floor, and overhead was the one large room which was used for a "meeting 
house." The Indians came to trade their furs for rum, beads, and other ar- 
ticles that took their fancy, and Comstock taught them the gospel. In the 
upper room the Indians were gathered, and there the white man first wor- 
shiped. There, it is supposed, Robert Silliman preached, Cyrus Marsh was 
ordained, and the church was organized; and there they worshiped until 1743. 

The old house stood till 1860, when it was pulled down. On the last 
night of its existence it was honored with divine service. Mr. Scudder, the 
pastor, made an address, and Lewis Spooner told many interesting facts re- 
garding the ancient structure, which he had learned from the old people, 
whose memories ran far back toward the beginning. 



50 HISTORY OF KENT. 

The early settlers of Kent were of the true New England type. To 
them religion was the most important thing, and almost the first thing they 
did was to call a minister. The first town meeting was held Dec. 4, 1738, and 
less than a month later, Jan. 2, 1739, a special meeting was held, at which it 
was voted to give "Mr. Robert Silliman a call for to be ower minister, and 
also voted to give the Jentelman one hundred pounds and twenty pounds sal- 
ary; and also voted that a comett be appointed to treat with Mr. Silliman 
and to se upon what terms ye Jentelman will be ower minister." The com- 
mittee found the reverend Jentelman unwilling to treat, and so reported 
to the meeting; whereupon the vote mentioned above was declared to be of 
no force nor regard in the least, and it was voted to give Sur Silliman forty 
shillings a week and his board for so long a time as ye Jentelman had 
preacht to us all Readdey or shall continue to preach to us ocationaly. At 
this same meeting it was further voted that wee will Build a Meeting hows, 
and also that we will not begin to git the timber untill October next; this 
is avoated by the whole of the people of the meeting. Then follows a series 
of meetings and propositions to Mr. Silliman. He was of uncertain mind. 
At one time the record says he accepts humbly and freely, and a short time 
later declines the call on the ground of insufficient support. By great econ- 
omy he might be able to live himself, but the proposed salary would not 
permit him to lay up anything for posterity. His final reply covers two 
closely written pages of the Town Record. 

As the time drew near for beginning the work of getting out the timber 
for the meeting house, it seemed desirable to^ get a definite idea of what was 
to be done. Accordingly a meeting was called for September 29th, which re- 
sulted in the following vote: "We will Build a Meeting hovis for the publeck 
worship of G'od in Kent, the dimensions of which is as follows, 50 foot in 
length and 40 foot in breadth and 23 between joists." At a special meeting 
held October 20th it was voted to ask Mr. Cyrus Marsh to preach for a 
time on probation. December 8th he was invited to settle as the Gospel 
minister. To this call Mr. Marsh replied in the negative, but an offer of bet- 
ter support caused him to reconsider the matter; and this time the reply was 
in the affirmative, and a council was therefore immediately called to meet 
May 6th for the purpose of ordaining him. 

The church was organized the preceding week, April 29, 1741, by the 
neighboring churches of Sharon and New Milford, and consisted of eleven 
membei's, all men. Before the end of the year, however, fifty were added, 
making sixty-one in all. This great gain is significant as showing the rapid- 
ity with which the town was settled. In the meantime work progressed 
favorably on the frame of the meeting house. It continued triumphantly 
to go forward, until at a lawful town meeting held April 19, 1742, it was so 
far advanced that it became necessary to vote six gallons of rum to raise it. 
Another year goes by and we find a vote to board up the sides and ends of 
the meeting house, in order that it may be clapboarded. Whether it was 
built of logs and clapboarded is uncertain. Tradition says it was built of 
logs, and a poor affair anyway. Certain it is that it was not plastered; and 
that it was poorly lighted, is evident from the occasional votes to permit 
some individual to build a pew and cut out a window. Just before the new 
church was built it was proposed to lath and plaster the interior and white- 
wash the beams overhead. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 51 

Where this second place nf worship stood is not altogether clear. We 
should naturally expect it on a hill, in accordance with the prevailing custom, 
and that it would be near the burying ground. Tradition says it was pro- 
posed to build opposite the old burying gi'ound on Good Hill; but on account 
of the steep hill up which the lumber must be drawn from the mill, that 
plan was abandoned. The Town Recoi-ds state that an impartial committee 
consisting of three men, one each from Sharon, Litchfield, and Danbury, 
was chosen to fix the site. 

It is probable that the house stood in what was then the highway in 
Flanders, just south of the large rock to the north of Mr. Bissell's. There 
still remain marked traces of an old foundation, and all the direct evidence 
points to that slope as the site of the first meeting house. 

It must have been finished some time during 1743; for at a town meeting 
held October 5th of that year, it was voted to pay John Ransom fifteen shil- 
lings for the care of the meeting house during the ensuing year. 

The young church almost immediately had a case of discipline on its 
hands and heart. A member was tried and found guilty of the sin of drunk- 
enness, and accordingly suspended until such time as he should make gospel 
satisfaction. This he did in a short time, and was restored to full commun- 
ion. 

Another case of discipline attracts one's attention in reading the old 
records, for it concerns one of the proprietors and first settlers of the town. 
P^'our miembers are summoned to appear to answer for their conduct in at- 
tending a disoirderly meeting. What that "disorderly meeting" was is not 
stated, and one reads on and on, till at last, from the confession of one of 
the women, he learns that it was a Quaker meeting. 

There was not perfect harmony between Mr. Marsh and his people, and 
in 1756 the pastoral relation was dissolved. Mr. Marsh became a lawyer, and 
after an interregnum of two years, Joel Bordwell was called and settled. He 
was a graduate of Yale College, and eminent for learning and piety. Un- 
der his long pastorate of fifty-four years the church flourished in spite of 
the terribly trying character of the time. 

The War of the Revolution impoverished where it did not devastate. For 
many years there was practically no money. Mr. Bordwell was from neces- 
sity a farmer, and during the long winter a tutor as well; for like most of the 
ministers of the day, he fitted many a boy for ooUeige. The spiritual desti- 
tution of the period was even greater than the material. Skepticism and in- 
fidelity were rampant, and the church that held its own did well. 

But during this period, under the leadership of Mr. Bordwell, the 
church in Kent held the even tenor of its way without serious hindrance or 
mishap. There was much to be done, — lands to be cleared and fenced, roads 
laid out, and bridges and schoolhouses built. Worst of all there was no 
money to do it with, as we have seen. Yet our hard-working, self-sacrific- 
ing fathers did not stop there. The old meeting house, poorly built, unplas- 
tered, unpainted, bare and cheerless, must be extensively repaired or a new 
house built. 

In 1770 the first vote to build anew was passed, and two years later de- 
cisive steps were taken. It was voted to prepare timber, and stones for the 
underpinning: a tax of 4d on a pound on the list of 1771 was laid. This tax 
might be paid in wheat, rye, Indian corn, bar iron, or cash. The house was 



52 HISTORY OF KENT. 

to be 60 X 45 X 26 feet high between joists. It was probably occupied some- 
time during 1774, although not entirely completed for several years after. 
In 1777 a committee was appointed to sell or pull down the old meeting 
house. 

The church built in 1774 is the one which stood on the Green at Flan- 
ders, and is so well remembered by many. It was a good-sized building, and 
the galleries, which extended around three sides, seated a large number. It 
was always full, for everybody went to church in those days. 

Rev. Joel Bordwell died Dec. 6, 1811, in the eightieth year of his age and 
the fifty-fourth of his ministry. Of his funeral the church record says: A 
funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Mills, of Torrington, to a large 
and very solemn assembly, in which were several neighboring clergymen. 
The Rev. Mr. Geltson (son-in-law of the deceased) made a very appropriate 
address at the grave, at which time the funeral anthem, "I heard a great 
voice," etc., was suhg in a very solemn and moving manner. 

For several months the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Zephaniah Swift, 
and in September a call to settle was given him. Mr. Swift was obliged to 
decline the call, because he could find no convenient place which he might 
purchase for a residence. 

Six months later Mr. Asa Blair was called, and on May 26, 1813, was or- 
dained pastor. The faithful seed sowing of Mr. Bordwell now began tO' be 
manifest, and in the years immediately following, the church was richly 
blessed, revival following revival. On the first Sunday in November, 1812, 
Mr. Swift received forty-seven into the church; and during the nine years 
of Mr. Blair's ministry one hundred and seventy were added. Without ex- 
traordinary ability Mr. Blair, nevertheless, combined those qualities of 
head and heart which, together with good sense and thoroughgoing consecra- 
tion, rendered his labor blessed of the Lord, and himself dearly beloved by 
the church. It was therefore the source of great grief when the state of 
his health compelled him to ask leave of absence. 

He journeyed South, and died in South Carolina in January, 1823, 
mourned by everyone. 

In October of the same year Rev. Laurens P. Hickok was called, and 
two months later ordained and installed by consociation. Rev. Samuel Mills, 
of Torringford, a native of Kent, assisted in the ordination service, being 
one of those who "imposed hands." He was father of the famous Samuel 
J. Mills, who by his prayers and consecrated effort did so much to call in- 
to being the A. B. C. F. M., and was himself one of the most brilliant and 
original of that band of great preachers who maide Litchfield County a 
synonym for pulpit power. Harriet Beeoher Stowe writes of him, "Of all the 
marvels that astonished my childhood, there is no one that I remember to 
this day with so much interest as Father Mills." 

The six years of Mr. Hlckok's ministry were somewhat stormy, and the 
church and society records would lead one to think unsatisfactory. This, 
however, is untrue with regard to the church as a whole. As a preacher Mr. 
Hickok was simple, direct, and forceful, and as a man altogether lovable. 
All the trouble came from the violent dislike of the minister on the part of 
an influential man in the community, who permitted no oppoirtunity for 
stirring up strife to pass. The minister was charged with unministerial con- 
duct, such as whistling, vaulting fences, running on the streets, and driving 
a fast horse. Consociation was called, and it decided that there was no 



HISTORY OK KENT. 53 

cause for uneasiness, and therefore no reason for the dissolution of the pas- 
toral relation. When, however, the call came from Litchfield inviting Mr. 
Hickok to succeed Dr. Lyman Beecher, he gladly availed himself of it as of- 
fering a solution of the difficulty, and thus Kent lost the most eminent man 
w^ho has ever oeoupied her pulpit. 

During thesie yeairs society affairs moved smoothly. Votes are recorded 
which look odd to us in these days; e. g., occasionally some one is granted 
permission to build a pew, and for several years it was repeatedly voted 
that the society seat the meeting house. In 1802 certain individuals were 
given permission to- build a steeple, provided no expense accrued to the so- 
ciety. On similar conditions individuals might saw out the crack in the 
bell; and it was voted to let the burying ground to some one who would 
fence it, and pasture it only with sheep. 

In 1811 the first steps were taken toward raising a permanent fund for 
the support of the public worship. The records speak frequently of a parson- 
age fund, but where it came from is nowhere explained. A committee was 
appointed to raise a fund for the support of the society, and this parsonage 
fund was appropriated to that use. People were invited to contribute mer- 
chantable neat cattle, grain, pork, bar iron, or cash. It was estimated that 
six thousand dollars would be sufficient. The society already possessed two 
thousand (parsonage fund probably), which would leave four thousand to be 
raised. The interest on the sums contributed by various individuals was to 
be set off against their tax. How soon the whole amount was raised cannot 
be ascertained. What was contributed was of no benefit for many years, as 
it was deposited in the Hartford Bank, which failed to pay dividends. 

What led the fathers to this action is uncertain. It may have been local 
cause, or possibly wise men saw the crisis that was coming, when the vol- 
untary principle should be substituted for the compulsory in the support of 
public worship. Their church expenses were met by taxation. The right to 
tax still exists, but is never exercised. At all events the consecrated Chris- 
tians of Kent toiled, and saved, and denied themselves for the sake of Christ. 

For five years after Mr. Hickok's departure the church was without a 
pastor, but the long waiting finally closed with the installation of Rev. W. W. 
Andrews. For fifteen years he faithfully performed his labor of love, trusted 
and beloved by his people and blessed by God. Having changed his ecclesias- 
tical beliefs, he resigned the charge May 21, 1849. Jo those who lived under 
his ministry his memory is a benediction; and to the young, one of the most 
cherished traditions of the past. He might well have been Goldsmith's 
model in the "Village Preacher." He walked with God and mirrored Christ to 
his people, and their every interest was his own. 

"Their welfare pleased him, and their cares distressed; 
To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given, 
But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven: 
As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form. 
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm. 
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, 
Eternal sunshine settles on its head." 

During the next ten years the church had only one settled minister, and 
he remained but six months. The pulpit was well supplied by. a Mr. Green- 



54 HISTORY OF KENT. 

wood, Mr. Caldwell and others till 1850, when Rev. Blisha Whittlesey was en- 
gaged, and remained three years. 

During this period the society suffered more or less on account of the 
withdrawal of several families about Flanders, in consequence of the removal 
of the church. 

For some time previous to the year 1848 there had been a feeling that the 
old church should be repaired. Many thought it good enough as it was, and 
were unwilling to do anything. Room, too, was needed for horse sheds, but 
no one near the old church would sell any land for that purpose. The rail- 
road had gone through, and what was then called the corner seemed destined 
to be the principal part of the town: it certainly was nearer the geographi- 
cal center of the parish than Flanders. Finally a meeting was called to see 
about repairing the old church. Instead of voting repairs it was voted to 
build a new church. Very naturally the people in the vicinity of the old 
church opposed any change. Another meeting was held, with the same 
result, and a disinterested commission of three, one each from Sharon, New 
Milford, and Goshen, was appointed to locate the new church. They fixed 
upon the present location and the work of construction began; also the work 
of destruction. More or less had been said about the unsafeness of 
the old edifice, especially the steeple, which many declared might fall over 
at any time. At last the day came to pull it over. A great rope was fastened 
high up, a hundred or more men and boys got hold, and the fun began. It 
did not come so easily, however, and the good people of Flanders chuckled at 
the frantic, and for a long time futile, efforts of the crowd. But at last it 
started; a shout of exultation went up, — a shout which was cut short and ac- 
tually choked by the dust in which the multitude found themselves; for it 
had only started to spring back again, and the snap back had laid them all 
sprawling in the dust. Then it was that Flanders laughed, and one good old 
lady thanked the Lord laat he had humbled the proud. 

The new church was dedicated in 1850, probably some time during May. 
The records do not give the date, but at a meeting held April 27th a com- 
mittee was appointed to make arrangements. It was voted to occupy the 
church as soon as dedicated, and to rent the slips from May 1st. It is inferred 
that the dedication was in May. The sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel 
J. Andrews, brother of the former pastor of the church and first pastor of the 
Broadway Tabernacle. 

In 1859 the church was once more blessed with a settled pastorate. Rev. 
Evarts Scudder was installed June 1st, just ten years after the dismission of 
Mr. Andrews. The name Scudder is a guarantee of pulpit eloquence and pas- 
toral faithfulness, and the man was all the name implies. 

Others who occupied the pulpit were Pay son, and Cros^by, and Barclay, and 
Vorce, and Porter. Tbey have gone to other fields, but their labors remain. 

The ministers raised in the church are as follows: 

Samuel John Mills, born May 16, 1743; died in Torringford, May 11, 1833. 
He was graduated at Yale in 1764, and then studied theology. On June 29, 
1769, he was ordained in Torringford, and remained in charge of that parish 
until his death. He outlived all his college classmates, and became generally 
known, on acount of his age, as "Father Mills." His son, Samuel John, born 
in Torringford, is famous as the "Father of Foreign Mission Work in Chris- 
tian America." It is not so generally known that it was his suggestion 
which resulted in the formation of the American Bible Society. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 55 

Rev. Edmund Mills, brother of Samuel J., Sr., born in Kent, and was 
pastor in Massachusetts from 1790 to 1825. 

Rev. Seth Swift, pastor at Williamstown, Mass., 1776-1807. He had two 
sons who were ministers, Rev. E. G. Swift, and Rev. Elisha P. Swift, who 
was professor in Alleghany Theological Seminary. A brother of Seth, not 
born in Kent, Rev. Job Swift, D.D., was in the ministry from 1766 to 1804 in 
Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. One of his sons became Secretary of 
State in Vermont, and another United States Senator from the same State. 

Rev. Walter Smith, Yale, 1816; pastor of Second Church, Cornwall, from 
1819 to 1838. 

Rev. Birdsey Grant Northrop, LL.D., Yale, 1841; pastor, Saxonville, 
Mass., 1847-57; Agent of Massachusetts Board of Education, 1857-6P; Secre- 
tary of Connecticut Board of Education, 1869-82. 

LIST OF PASTORS. 

Rev. Cyrus Marsh was ordained and installed the first pastor May 5, 1741, and 

was dismissed about 1754. 
Rev. Joel Bordwell was ordained and installed in September, 1756, and died 

Dec. 6, 1811. 
Rev. Asa Blair was ordained and instal led May 26, 1813, and died Jan. — , 

1823. 
Rev. Laurens P. Hickok was ordained and installed Dec. 10, 1823, and was 

dismissed April 21, 1^29. 
Rev. William W. Andrews was ordained and installed May 21, 1834, and was 

dismissed May 21, 1849. 
Rev. William W. Page was installed Dec. 7, 1853, and was dismissed July 

16, 1854. 
vRev. Elisha Whittlesey was engaged as pastor in 1856, and remained three 

years. 
Rev. Evarts Scudder was ordained and installed June 1, 1859, and was dis- 
missed April 1, 1867. 
Rev. Edward P. Payson was installed Dec. 4, 1867, and was dismissed about 

June 1, 1870. 
Rev. Arthur Crosby began supplying the pulpit early in the year 1871; was 

installed in January, 1872, and dismissed Sept. 29, 1873. 
Rev. Thomas D. Barclay was engaged as pastor Nov. 30, 1874, and remained 

until April, 1879. 
Rev. J. H. Vorce was engaged as pastor in July, 1879, and remained until 

June, 1883. 
Rev. Elbert S. Porter was ordained and installed Dec. 19, 1883, and was dis- 
missed March 10, lo89. 
Rev. Benjamin M. Wright was installed Nov. 19, 1889; resigned, 1896. 
The present pastor is Rev. Howard Mudie. 

PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 

Pastor — Rev. Howard Mudie. 

Deacons— Samuel C. Conn, Levi W. Stone, Marshall C. Gibbs, Charles 
L. Spooner. 



56 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Standing Committee — The Pastor, Deacons, Superintendent of Sunday 
School, and President of Y. P. S. C. B., ex officio, Mrs. John Hopson, Miss 
Mary A. Hopson, Mrs. Russell Eaton. 

Clerk— Eugene W. Bull. 

Treasurer — George R. Bull. 

Auditor — Deacon Charles L. Spooner. 

CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS. 

The following list of names are those who signed the covenant and were 
incorporated into a church by the neighboring churches of New Milford and 
Sharon, April 29, 1741: 

Cyrus Marsh, Azariah Pratt, 

Bbenezer Barnum, Joseph Fuller, 

Samuel Lewis, Bbenezer Lyman, 

Abel Wright, Gideon Barnum, 

Daniel Comstock, Samuel Bates. 

Nathaniel Berry. 

The following is a list of the members admitted in full communion with 
this church, being recommended from the several churches wherefrom they 
come : 



1741. 
Daniel Comstock, Jr., 
Samuel Canfield, 
Abagail Barnum, 
Mercy Lewis, 
Mary Wright, 
Mary Comstock, 
Hannah Pratt, 
Lydia Fuller, 
Lydia Lyman, 
Anna Barnum, 
Mary Canfield, 
Catherine Comstock, 
Nathaniel Sanford, 
Margaret Peck, 
Ebenezer Peck, 
Benjamin Peck, 
John Mills, 
Jane Mills, 
Esther Hambleton, 
Ruth Bebee, 
Capt. Timothy Hatch, 
Deborah Hatch, 
Mary Lothrop, 
Sylvanus Hatch, 
Jedida Hatch, 
Benjamin Brownson, 
Nathaniel, 
Martha Brownson, 
Ruth, 



Nathaniel Slosson, 
James Stewart, 
Margaret Slosson, 
Elona Stewart, 
Bethiah Ransom, 
William Roberts, 
Joseph Peck, 
Mary Roberts, 
Daniel Brownson, 
Mary Brownson, 
Elizabeth Sanford, 
Rebekah Segar. 

1742. 
Hannah Newcomb, 
Daniel Joseph Benton, 
Jehiel Benton, 
Sarah Benton, 
Mary Castle, 
Abraham Raymond, 
Mercy Raymond. 

1743. 
Sarah Thompson, Jr., 
John Dunning, 
Hannah Dunning, 
Daniel Thompson, 
Sarau Thompson, 
Joshua Lasell, 
Mary Bentley, 
Nathaniel Roberts, 
Rel)ekah Roberts. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE SCATACOOKS. 



THE NUMBER OF DESCENDANTS CONFINED TO A HANDFUL OF HALF-BREEDS WHO STILL 
OCCUPY THE OLD RESERVATION — THEY WERE AT ONE TIME ONE OF THE LARGEST 
TRIBES OF INDIANS IN CONNECTICUT WHO RETREATED BEFORE THE ADVANCING 
COLONISTS. 

One of the largest, if not the very largest, of the tribes of Indians 
formed by the bands of wanderers who retreated before the advancing colo- 
nists of Connecticut, was the tribe of Scatacooks in Kent. The founder of 
this community was a Pequot, called Gideon Mauwehu, who possessed some- 
thing of the energy and commaniding character for which his nation was 
once distinguished. He is first known as having been the leader of a small 
band which lived about the lower portions of the Housatonic. He is said to 
have resided, at one time, in or near Derby; and it is certain that he pos- 
sessed sufficient power in that region to settle one of his sons on a small 
territory at Humphreysville. He is next heard of at Newtown, afterwards at 
New Milford; and in 1729, he seems to have been one of the thirteen Indians 
who claimed to be "the owners of all unsold lands in New Fairfield." At 
all events, a deed of that year exists among the papers at Hartford, dispos- 
ing of the above lands for sixty-five pounds, and signed by Oockenon, Mau- 
wehu and eleven others. The tract thus sold was doubtless that now oom- 
prehended in the township of Sherman, which lies directly west of New Mil- 
ford, and about four miles west of the ancient residence of the New Milford 
Indians. 

Mauwehu afterwards moved to Dover, a town which is some ten miles 
west of Scataco'ok and is situated on the Ten Mile River in the state of New 
York. Here he had lived but a little while, when, in one of his hunting ex- 
cursions, he came to the summit of a mountain in Kent which rises to the 
west of the Housatonic. Looking down from this eminence, he beheld that 
gentle river, winding through a narrow but fertile and beautiful valley, 
shut in by mountains thickly covered with trees. The whole country was 
uninhabited; the white mam had not yet penetrated intO' these quiet recesses; 
the streams were still stocked with fish, and the wooded hills plentifully 
supplied with game. The gazing Indian was delighted with the scene, 
and instantly perceived the capabilities of the region for supporting a con- 
siderable population of his countrymen. He returned to his wigwam, pack- 
ed up his property, and journeyed with his family and followers to this 
new-found land of quiet and plenty. From here he issued invitations to his 
old friends at Potatuck and New Milford, to the Mohegans of the Hudson 
river, and to other tribes of the surrounding country. Immigrants fiocked 
in from all quarters; large numbers especially came from the clans south 



74 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



of him on the Housatonic; and, in ten years from the time of settlement, 
it was thought that a hundred warriors had collected under the sachemship 
of Mauwehu. A considerable acceission was received from the New Milford 
tribe, in 1736, a short time after the death of their sachem, Waramaug. The 
Indians called their settlement Scatacook, and it is by this name that the 
tribe thus formed always continued to be distinguished. 

The Scatacooks had not enjoyed their happy valley many years before 
they were disturbed by the arrival of the whites. The settlement of Kent, 
commenced in 1738, was prosecuted rapidly; but no difficulties seem to have 
occurred between the settlers and the Indians, and nothing worthy of notice 
took place until 1742.* 

In that year, the Moravian missionaries began to preach to the Scata- 
cooks, and soon effected a remarkable change in the character of the tribe. 
As this mission had so much to do with the Indians of Connecticut, it will 
be well to give a short sketch of its history. * * * In 1739 or 1740, a Mo- 
ravian named Christian Henry Ranch, arrived at New York, with the design 
of commencing a mission among the Indians of this part of America. Shortly 
after his landing, he fell in with two New York Mohegans, and accompanied 
them to Shekomeko, an Indian village between the Connecticut and the 
Hudson. His labors first met with much opposition from the natives and the 
neighboring whites; but success finally rewarded his perseverance, and, in 
1742, he had the happiness of baptizing several converts, among whom were 
the two Indians who brought him to Shekomeko. A few of the brethren 
joined him, and living and dressing in the Indian style, supported them- 
selves by their own labor. The religious interest extended into the neigh- 
boring villages of Connecticut and New York, effecting, not only the natives, 
but the white population. Many of the New Milford Indians were convert- 
ed, and a missionary named Bruce was established in Sharon, who remained 
there until his death. Among the Scatacooks the effects of the Moravians 
were eminently successful. Mauwehu and from one hundred and twenty to 
one hundred and fifty of his people were baptized. A church was built and 
a flourishing congregation collected. 

An almost total reformation seemed to have been effected in the charac- 
ter of the Indians. Nearly their whole conversation when among the English 
was on religion; and they spent a great part of their time in the public or 
private duties of devotion. This wide spread religious interest excited feel- 
ings of deep hostility among the rumsellers and dissolute characters of the 
surrounding district. They saw their gains at once cut off, and the Indians, 
who had formerly been their best customers, now become temperate and sav- 
ing. Reports were spread, that the missionaries were providing the Indians 
with arms, and endeavoring to draw them into a league with the French. In 
New York they were called on to serve in the militia, and harassed and 
persecuted to force a compliance with the call. An act of Legislature was 
procured in the same colony, commanding the missionaries to take the oath 
of allegiance, and forbidding them to teach the Indians unless they obeyed. 
It was contrary to the religious prejudices of the Moravians either to take 
oaths or to act any part in military affairs. Rather than violate their con- 
sciences, they resolved to leave their present settlements, and retire to some 
spot where they could preach the gospel in peace. Inviting tlieir flock to 

* This account is chiefly from Barber, pp. 471, 472. 



>> 



HISTORY OF KENT. 75 

follow them, they removed to Pennsylvania, where they commenced a village 
which they called Bethlehem. The New York people now seized the lands of 
the Indians, and set a guard to prevent the latter from being visited by the 
brethren. A large number of the Mohegans* followed their teachers to Beth- 
lehem; many, also, of the New Milford Indians, and some of the Scatacooks. 
But this change of climate proved fatal to numbers of the emigrants, especial- 
ly among the old people. The Connecticut Indians, discouraged by sickness 
and hardship, returned to their ancient country, and settled at Scatacook. 
Here, deprived of their teachers, they seemed to forget their religion, sank 
into intemperance, and began to waste away. In this mournful manner end- 
ed the most promising and, for a time, the most successful religious effort that 
was ever commenced among the aborigines of Connecticut.! 

During the war of 1744 with France, Governor Clinton of New York, and 
a body of commissioners from Massachusetts and Connecticut, had an audi- 
ence with the Scatacooks and River Indians, J and made them an address 
calculated to either keep them at peace or engage them on the English side. 

They began, as is usual o^n such occasions, by styling the Indians neigh- 
bors and friends; expressing the pleasure which the governor and commis- 
sioners felt in seeing them, and declaring that they should henceforth look 
upon them as their very near relations. After these compliments, they said 
that they had spoken with the Six Nations, and now came to speak with 
them: that it was a very proper time to brighten the chain of peace; for the 
French, without any cause, had just begun a war on the English: that the 
latter might therefore want the assistance of their good friends and brothei-s, 
the Scatacooks and River Indians; and that, when a convenient time arrived, 
they would make them such a present as would be suitable to the circum- 
stances. Such was the substance of a speech delivered by one of the com- 
missioners. On the next day the Indians made the following reply: 

"Fathers of the Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut. We are glad to see 
you here, and we bid you welcome. We are inclined to live in peace 
and love with these three governments and all the rest of his Majesty's sub- 
jects. 

Fathers: We are very glad that we are all united in one covenant chain; 
we are resolved that it shall not rust, and will therefore wind it with beaver 
skins. 

Fathers: We are ready to promote good things; and what our uncles, 
the Six Nations, have promised we will readily concur in on our part. 

Fathers: You are the greatest, and you desire us to stay at home, which 
we promise to do, and we hope that no harm will come to us. 

Fathers: We are united with the Six Nations in one common covenant, 
and this is the belt which is the token of that covenant. 

Fathers of Boston and Connecticut: Whatever you desired of us yester- 
day we engaged to perform; and we are very willing to keep and cultivate a 
close friendship with you; and we will take care to keep the covenant chain 
bright. 

Fathers: You are a great people and we are a small one; we will do what 
you desire, and we hope that you will take care that no harm come to us." 



* Not the Mohegans of Connecticut, but those of the Hudson. 

t Tracy's History of American Missions, pp. i8, ig. Trumbull, Vol. II., p. 84. 

i Probably the Stockbridges of Massachusetts. 



76 HISTORY OF KENT. 

The Indians then presented a belt of wampum and three martin skins.* 

FYom this speech it seems pretty evident that the Indians were consid- 
erably more anxious to be protected themselves than to risk their lives in in- 
juring others. The warlike spirit had gi'eatly decayed among them; and 
what was it to them whether the English beat the French, or the French beat 
the English? 

The township of Kent was sold to the original settlers by the colony; and 
no records or papers remain tO' show whether the land was usurped from the 
Indians, or was obtained from them by purchase. Reseirvatioms, however, 
were made to them: one on the west bank of the Housatonic river; and one, 
of two thousand acres, in the mountains: and, since there were reservations, 
we may conclude that there must have been, in the first place, sales. One 
of the only two land transactions, betv/een the natives and the colony, to be 
found in the Kent records, is a deed dated December 19th, 1746. For the 
sum of two hundred pounds, it leases to Benjamin Hollister, Robert Watson 
and Henry Stephens, a large tract, extending from the Housatonic to the west- 
ern bounds of the colony, for a term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years. 
This form of passing over the property is an evident attempt to evade those 
colonial laws which prohibited the purchasing of Indian lands by individuals. 
The record Is subscribed by the marks of "Capten Mayhew, Leftenant Samuel 
Coksuer, Jobe Mayhew, John Anteney, Thomas Cuksuer and John Soke- 
noge." f 

From the above spelling of the sachem's name, we may infer the English 
origin of the word Mauwehu. Gideon was very likely one of those "Indian 
youths" who had been brought up, more or less in the families of the "godly 
English," or other English, and had been baptized, or otherwise furnished, 
with an English name. When Gideon became a chief, he was, naturally in 
that military age of New England, dubbed Capten; and his surname was eas- 
ily transformed into Mauwehu by his own foreign pronunciation, or by the 
outlandish spelling of the scribes of those early days. 

The other Indian deed in the Kent records is a sale by Chere, son of War- 
amaug, of four hundred acres in Waramaug's Reserve, that is in New Preston 
in Washington. The price is not mentioned: Chere only declares that he has 
received valuable consideration. X 

After the Connecticut people commenced their settlements in Kent, the 
Indians took up their residence chiefly on the west bank of the Housatonic. 
The settlers gradually encroached on them, by purchase and perhaps other- 
wise, until, about the year 1752, the Indians found themselves deprived of 
nearly all their lands on the plain. Mauwehu and fourteen others now sub- 
scribed a petition to the Assembly, saying that the tribe consisted of eighteen 
families; that they had been deprived of all their planting ground except a 
small quantity which was insufficient: for them; and praying that they 
might have a tract of unoccupied land which lay below them along the Hous- 
atonic. 

The Assembly granted them about two hundred acres in the place desig- 
nated, allowing them to cultivate it at pleasure, and to cut what timber 
they needed for their own use, from the greatest part of it. The tract was 

* Indian Papers, Vol. I., Doc. 262. 
+ Kent Records, Vol. I., page 381. 
t Kent Records, Vol. I., page 464. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 7 7 

not, however, given in fee simple, but was to be held by the Indians at the 
pleasure of the colony.* 

Other difficulties followed, similar in their nature to those which took 
place between other tribes and the surrounding whites. The Indians com- 
plained of encroachments and trespasses, sometimes with, and sometimes ap- 
parently without, cause. State committees reported, and town committees re- 
ported, without producing much more effect than the reports of a similar 
number of pop-guns. At this distance of time it is not easy to understand 
the precise grounds ot these petty differences, nor to discover what party was 
in the wrong. 

In 1757, Jabez Smith was chosen overseer of the tribe; being the first 
officer of the kind appointed for the Scataoooks. 

Ten years after this event, Mauwehu and many of the older persons in 
the commiunity being dead the remainder became anxious to remove to Stock- 
bridge. The StO'Ckbridge Indians had invited them to come, and they there- 
fore petitioned the Assembly, that the tract of one hundred and fifty or 
two hundred acres which had been granted them in 1752 might be sold for 
their benefit. As this land, however, did not belong to the Indians, but to 
the colony, the Assembly negatived the request 

In October, 1771, the following singular petition, evidently the composi- 
tion and penmanship of the Indians themselves, was presented to the Legis- 
lature. 

"We are poore Intins at Scutcuk in the town of Kent we desire to the 
most honorable Sembly at New Haven we are very much pressed by the Nep- 
awaug people praking our fences and our gates and turning their cattle in our 
gardens and destroying our fruits, the loss of our good friend 4 years ago 
which we desire for a nother overseer in his sted to take Oare of us and 
see that we are not ronged by the people we make choice of Elisha Swift of 
Kent to be our trustee if it (be) plesing to your minds." f 

The petition was signed by David Sherman, Job Sucknuck and eight oth- 
ers. Elisha Swift was appointed overseer, in accordance with its request. He 
was shortly succeeded, by Reuben Swift, and he, in turn, by Abraham Fuller, 
who held the office for several years. The Indians, during all this time, were 
in extreme poverty-stricken circumstances; several of them, too, were sick, 
and were unable to pay the expenses they thus incurred. David Sherman, a 
signer, and perhaps the composer, of the above petition, broke his brother's 
head so badly in a quarrel as to render a trepan necessary. By 1774, so 
many Scatacooks had died or removed, that the number remaining in Kent 
was only sixty-two*. Of the other bands of Litchfield county, there were 
seven individuals in Cornwall, eight in Litchfield, and nine in Woodbury. ± 

In 1775, the Assembly ordered that the lands of the Scatacooks should 
be leased to pay their debts and defray their expenses. It was also ordered, 
with regard to David Sherman, that he should be bound out to service, to 
defray the expenses arising from his brother's broken head. Thomas War- 
rups, probably a son of the old sagamore of Reading, was allowed to sell 
thirty acres of land to pay his debts and provide for his family. Three years 
after, another tract, of ten acres, was sold for the purpose of relieving the 



* Indian Papers, Vol. II., Doc. 76. 
t Indian Papers, Vol. II., Doc. 201. 
t Mass. Hist. Coll., Vol. X., p 118 



78 HISTORY OF KENT. 

indigent circumstances of the Warrups family. The old squaw of Chickens 
was still living; she was blind, however and had lately been sick.* 

Not far from this time, Joseph Mauwehu, the sachem of Humphreysville, 
came to Scatacook, and took up his residence in his father's tribe. His 
name appears in a petition, dated April 13th. 17S6, which bears marks of 
having been written by some of the Scatacooks. It complains concerning 
their darkness, their ignorance, and their consequent inability to take care 
of themselves; and prays that some means may be used to give them knowl- 
edge and education. Most of their reserved lands, the petition goes on to say, 
have been taken from them; they have lost their hunting grounds in the 
mountains, and the New Milford people have deprived them of their ancient 
right of fishing at the falls of the Housatonic. Some of their number have 
suffered extremely from poverty, and the rest are themselves so poor as to 
be unable to help them. As for the rents of their lands, they do not know 
what becomes of them; and they ask the privilege of choosing a guardian, 
onoe a year, and exacting from him an annual settlement. The petition states 
the number of males in the tribe at thirty-six; the number of females at 
thirty-five: twenty of the whole being of a suitable age for attending 
school f 

A committee was appointed, and examined into the grounds of com- 
plaint mentioned in this memorial. They reported that the New Milford peo- 
ple had satisfied the Indians as to their fishing rights; and that, so far from 
the Scatacooks being entitled to complain of their guardian, they were actu- 
ally indebted to him to the amount of sixteen pounds, six shillings and six- 
pence. The committee further stated, that the lands were rented for only one 
year, and thus the tenants were induced to exhaust them without any regard 
to their future fertility. They recommended that fifty acres should be al- 
lotted to each Indian family, and that the rest should be leased to white 
farmers in terms of fifty years. As for a school, they reported that the chil- 
dren were so few in number, and "kept in such a wild savage way," that the 
thing would be useless. The report was approved by the Assembly; and we 
may suppose, therefore, that the measures which it recommended were carried 
into execution. :[ 

In 1801, the Scatacooks were reduced to thirty-five idle, intemperate be- 
ings, who cultivated only six acres of ground. Their lands still amounted 
to twelve or fifteen hundred acres extending from the Housatonic to the 
New York line. The greatest portion of this tract consisted of their ancient 
hunting grounds, was situated among the mountains, and was rough and 
unsuitable for tillage. In consequence of sickness among the Indians, their 
overseer, Abraham Fuller, had contracted debts on their account to the 
amount of over fonr hundred dollars. He petitioned that part of the reserva- 
tion might be sold, to pay him for these expenses. The Assembly voted 
that the northern portion of it should be sold, the above debts liquidated out 
of the proceeds, and two hundred dollars of the remainder applied to build- 
ing six wigwams for the Indians. The lands were accordingly disposed of for 
the sum of thirteen hundred pounds; and the overplus, after paying debts 



* Indian Papers, Vol. II. Colonial Records, Vol. XII. 
+ Indian Papers, Vol. II., Doc. 2iq. 
t Colonial Records, Vol. XII. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 79 

and deducting expenses, was put out at six per cent, interest on mortgage 
securities.* 

An honorable exception to the prevailing intemperance and idleness of 
the Scatacooks seems to have existed in Benjamin Chickens, a descendant of 
the old sachem. Chickens. Seven or eight years before the sale, he went on 
to the northwestern part of the land, built him a small but convenient 
house there, and fenced and cultivated several acres in such a manner as 
to make it good meadow and pasture land. In consequence of these improve- 
ments the whole tract sold for more than it could otherwise have brought. 
Benjamin very reasonably requested that he might be rewarded for his 
labor; and the Assembly as a remuneration, voted him one hundred dollars. 
At first he purchased nineteen acres in Kent, but six or seven years after, he 
sold his little farm and moved into the state of New York, f 

Other portions of the Scatacook lands were disposed of at various dates; 
and these sales, together with the appointments of overseers, constitute the 
annals of the tribe in later times. In 1836, Eunice Mauwehu, a grand- 
daughter of the old sachem, and a daughter of Chuse or Joseph, was still liv- 
ing at Scatacook, aged seventy-two years. X 

The Scatacooks have yet a considerable tract of land on the mountain; 
too rough and woody indeed to be cultivated, but well adapted for supply- 
ing them, with firewood. At the foot of the mountain, also, and between 
that and the Housatonic, they possess a narrow strip of plain, sufficient in 
size for gardens, watered by springs from the upper ground, and contain- 
ing a few comfortable houses. The number of Indian descendants remaining 
are few and mostly half-breeds. A few are sober and industrious, live com- 
fortably and have good gardens; but the majority are lazy, immoral and in- 
temperate. Many of them lead a vagabond life, wandering aboiit the state 
in summer, and returning to Scatacook to spend the winter. A few are in 
the habit of attending preaching and a few of the children go to school. 
They live in little houses. In dress, language and manners, they are like 
white people. There are now living Value Killson, wife and daughter; the 
Widow Killson, whose daughter married a Bridgeport man; the widow of 
Henry Harris, the well known "tinner," and Rachel Mauwehu. Near them 
is the home of George Coggswell, the noted snake hunter, and his son, Arch- 
ibald. A little further north is the dwelling of the only other Indian family, 
that of James Harris, son of the "tinner." 

The widow of Henry Harris, wife and son James, are the only full-blood- 
ed Indians remaining. Henry Harris, who died recently, was seventy-six 
years old, but his form at that age was sturdy and erect and his vigor re- 
markable. He possessed unusual mechanical ingenuity. With his queer 
tools and contrivances he made earrings, repaired guns and pistols, even be- 
ing able to make a gun tube, and tinkered in many other ways, being a use- 
ful man in the neighborhood. 

On one of several strips of bark forming the back of a shanty near the 
Widow Harris' house is noticed traced in large black letters the word, 
"AMALLOK." It occurs to one at fii-st that it must be an Indian word, but 
after careful study it is found to mean "Am all O. K." Her husband once had 



* State Records, Vols. VI., VII. 
t State Records, Vols. VIII., IX. 
t Barber, p. 471. 



8o HISTORY OF KENT. 

the word "lAMOK" painted on the chimney of his house and it proved to be 
a great puzzle for visitors who, of course, supposed it was an Indian word. 
Rachel Mauwehu is eighty-four years old. Her grandmother was over 100 years 
old when she died. 

The ancient Indians did not smoke regular tobacco, but the plant which 
is called lobelia was what they used. In medicine they seem to have been 
quite advanced, experiment then being the guide as now. They gathered 
roots and herbs, and as it was expressed, when a person was sick, "They 
tried one and another preparation until they hit right." 

Rachel Mauwehu has in her possession a large wooden bowl which be- 
longed to her great-grandmother and which is at least 200 years old. It was 
hollowed out of an apple tree knot with such tools as the Indians had. It 
has a little handle, now considerably worn, but once so shaped as to repre- 
sent a dog's head. 



CHAPTER VI. 



IRON INDUSTRY. 



MINE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WORKED HEFORE THE TOWN WAS INCORPORATED — 
PRIMITIVE WAY OF TRANSPORTATION WAS BY ORE IN BAGS ACROSS THE BACKS 
OF HORSES. — BUSINESS NOW ABANDONED AND NO PROSPECT THAT IT WILL EVER 
BE STARTED UP AGAIN. 

One of the first resolutions passed at a town meeting in Kent referred to 
the "iron ore pots." This leads the writer to believe that antedating the 
settlement of the town iron had been discovered in the hills to the east and 
been mined. The tradition is that the ore was taken in bags across the 
backs of horses and transported to small forges in neighboring places. The 
first owners so far as known were Robert Walker of Stratford, Jabez Hurd 
of Newtown and John Warner and Thomas Noble of New Milfo<rd, the mine 
being located in a tract of land known as the Fairweather purchase. This 
was in 1758. The year before Joseph Wooster, claimed he was one of the 
owners of a copper mine in Kent and had petitioned the General Assembly 
to be allowed to work it at the expense of himself and the other members 
of the company until the profits paid the expenses, which goes to show that 
copper was sought for, too-. 

In 1786 a committee was appointed to view and measure the several 
roads leading from the iron ore bed toward the iron works who reported the 
distance of the north road from the bed to the crotch of the road southward 
of the Widow Mary Hall two miles two quarters and twenty-six rods and 
the south road to Deacon Isaac Dayton's place two miles two quarters and 
fifty rods. 

After being worked for at least 150 years, the product going to Kent 
furnace to be put into pig iron, the mine is now abandoned. The ore was 
originally taken by tunnelling into the side of the hill, but later it became 
necessary to sink a shaft about 300 feet deep, from which seventy-nine pas- 
sages were extended into the ore, the hill where the ore lies now being lit- 
erally honeycombed with underground tunnels, some of them several rods 
long. The veins usually were from two to eight feet thick. The ore was 
hoisted in buckets, the miners also ascending and desoendimg in them when 
necessary to go up and down although there was another shaft called the 
"man hole" for that purpose. It is related that a round broke once as a 
workman grasped it and he descended until his legs caught in the rounds 
below. When found his limbs were broken and he died in the hospital 
shortly after. The old machinery is housed in a small building beside the 
shaft, including a steam engine used for hoisting ore and constantly pump- 
ing to keep the mine free of water, which but for it would soon have filled up. 

From ten to twenty tons of ore were taken out daily and carted in teams 



82 HISTORY OF KENT. 

six miles. Tlie shaft is now boarded up, and it is haj^dly probable that it 
will ever be opened again as the cost of transportation to market is too 
much to compete with large mines which have railroads at their shafts. 

The property is still owned by the Kent Iron Co., better known as 
Stewart, Hopson & Co., which had a capital of $30,000 and were also owners 
of the Kent Furnace which will be described later. 

The Bulls Falls Iron Works capitalized at $70,000 was a very successful 
concern for several years but finally had to close its doors. When it was at 
its height half a century ago Bulls Bridge was a flourishing community. 
There were a regular nest work of small forges in the surrounding villages 
which wrought all kinds of iron work from a nail to heavy wagon tires, get- 
ting their supply from the Bulls Falls works which beside casting the ore 
into pigs also worked it into small bars or strips. The majority of the 
iron was taken in two and four horse teams to Poughkeepsie thirty miles 
away where it was probably shipped down the Hudson to New York, the 
teams going one day and returning the next, stopping at Quaker Hill for a 
load of ore. This when it arrived was weighed in a very primitive way. 
Chains would be placed around the axles near the wheels, large steelyards 
would be put in place, and the load would be drawn up on a windlass. 
Twenty to twenty-five teams were kept in constant use and from fifteen to 
twenty tons of iron was put into pigs daily. 

Regarding the industry we cannot describe it better than by quoting from 
an article from the versatile pen of Mr. J. A. Bolles of the New Milford Ga- 
zette, published March 25, 1887: 

"There are seven iron furnaces in the northwestern part of this state, 
viz: One at Huntsville, one at Sharon, two at Canaan, one at Lime Rock, one 
at Cornwall Bridge and one at Kent Furnace. The first six mentioned are 
controlled by Mr. William H. Barnum of Lime Rock, but in the seventh at 
Kent Furnace he has no interest. 

"All of these furnaces have been in operation for a number of years, some 
of them for many years, and while they do not rank among the great fur- 
naces of the country, not being situated in proximity to large ore producing 
districts, they have for many years done a thriving business and turned out 
excellent iron. The iron-making business is, indeed, one of the most impor- 
tant industries of the Housatonic Valley, more important than many people 
suppose, it being carried on in so quiet and methodical a manner as to at- 
tract but little attention. 

"Like most other concerns that have had an enduring prosperity, the 
Kent iron works have steadily grown from a small beginning to their present 
proportions. The first stack (the name of the receptacle in which the ore 
is melted), was built in 1826 and from it was turned out three to four tons of 
iron in a day; in 1844 the stack was rebuilt and its daily capacity then was 
from five to seven tons of iron; in 1884 the stack was again rebuilt and en- 
larged, and the present capacity is from thirteen to fifteen tons of iron in a 
day, or from ninety to 100 tons in a week. The works were formerly run 
by a priviate company, known as Stewart, Hopson & Co., but in 1864 the 
present stock company, the Kent Iron Company, was formed and it now has 
from twelve to fifteen stock holders. Mr. Hopson has been conected with the 
business tor forty years, most of the time as its treasurer and manager, and 
Mr. Bull has been the secretary for the last twenty-three years. Mr. Donald 



HISTORY OF KENT. 83 

J. Warner of Salisbury is the president, and has filled the office for five years. 
His predecessor was the late Burrett Eaton of Kent. 

"Kent Furnace is situated about one mile and a quarter above the village 
of Kent on the Housatonic railroad, and besides the buildings of the Kent 
Iron Co., and of the good-sized country store containing general merchan- 
dise kept by George R. Bull and John L. Roberts, there are no structures. It 
is a place for business solely and for its principal industry, iron-making, it 
pos.sesses three admirable advantages. By means of a short side track, cars 
containing the iron ore brought here from the mines at Salisbury, Ct., and 
Richmond, Mass., can be quickly transferred from the main track to the very 
doors of the works, the rapidly flowing Housatonic river on the west, but a 
stone's throw from the furnace, furnishes all of the motive power needed for 
blowing hot air into the stack, and there is also only six miles southeast of 
the furnace a local mine from which all of the so called Kent ore, which is 
liberally used by the company, is extracted. The buildings of the Kent 
Iron Co., are brown, rambling structures, not at all fine in appearance but 
well enough suited to the rough and dirty work which is done in them. On 
the ample stretches of ground between the buildings and adjacent to them 
are large piles of iron bars, which are all ready for shipment. On each side 
of the side track are large heaps of iron ore, Including the remains of what 
was a very large quantity of the Kent ore, so much of the latter having 
been in stock that the mine from which it was obtained has not been worked 
for about a year. 

"The only kind of iron produced in the furnace is pig iron, and of this 
two kinds are turned out, Kent iron and Salisbury iron. The former iron is 
made entirely from the ore of the Kent mine. This ore works up into ex- 
cellent iron for fine machinery, especially for locomotives. It is strong, and 
has a fine finish. At the mine a shaft 225 feet deep is sunk, and when the 
mine is operated, about fifteen miners are employed and from 10 to 20 tons 
of ore are taken out in a day. The Salisbury iron is produced from the old 
Hill ore of the mine at Salisbury, Ct., and the ore of the mine at Richmond, 
Mass., the proportions being about % to y% Salisbury ore to i/4 to y% Rich- 
mond ore. The Salisbury iron is also strong and is used very largely for 
car wheels. The Salisbury ore is somewhat used in two furnaces on the 
Harlem railroad, but with these two exceptions, it is entirely consumed in 
the Housatonic Valley, at the Kent furnace and at Mr. Barnum's furnaces 
heretofore mentioned. It is impossible to keep the stack always at a uni- 
form heat, and consequently the iron varies in quality, it being divided into 
seven distinct kinds, the degree of hardness attained determining in what 
division a given lot of iron belongs. Both the Kent and Salisbury iron are 
shipped in considerable quantities to prominent machine works located in 
the eastern states and in the west and in the south. 

"The process of converting the ore into iron is as follows: The ore ar- 
rives at the works in two forms, known as wash ore and rock ore. The for- 
mer consists entirely of little chunks and particles, and as it is, is thrown in- 
to the stack to be melted. The rock ore is in the form of large pieces, most 
of them varying in size from the bigness of a man's head to the capacity of a 
peck measure. The latter ore has to be crushed, and the cars containing it 
are run on the side track into a building, where there is a rock crusher made 
by the Farrell Foundry Co. of Ansonia, Ct. The crusher is impelled by a 



54 HISTORY OF KENT. 

steam engine and can crush 100 tons of ore in a day. Tlie crusher is a very 
simple contrivance, the ore being shattered and ground by means of a cam 
going very rapidly forward and backward and catching the ore, as it runs 
down from a spout, between itself and a solid iron frame. After the rock ore 
has been crushed, that and the wash ore are wheeled, as wanted, in barrows 
and thrown into the stack, the contents of which look like a seething lake 
of fire, and from which roaring blasts of air are continually rising into the 
oven. The latter is placed on top of the stack, instead of to one side of it 
as is the rule in many iron works, and this arrangement, Mr. Hopson thinks, 
is a great advantage. In fact, it is his opinion that there is not a better 
oven in the Housatonic Valley. The oven is at least twenty feet high and 
the stack 34 feet high, making a total height of 54 feet. The whole structure 
occupies quite an area, the 'round top" (the receptacle, in which the ore 
is melted), being enclosed in a huge frame of stone. The round top is 
perhaps three feet in diameter at the top, and about nine feet in the bosh 
or widest portion, the stack being built large in the middle, from which it 
gradually tapers smaller toward the top and to the bottom or hearth. The 
latter consists of from twenty to forty stones laid very compactly and sym- 
metrically like the concave of a bowl. A new hearth has to be put in about 
once a year at a cost of $600, and it takes about a week to build it. When the 
fire in the stack is started it is called "blowing in," and when it is allowed 
to go out, it is called "blowing out." The stack can be blown out in about 
twenty-four hours. Only when a new hearth is put in or there is a shut 
down for some purpose, is the fire allowed to go out. For many months, per- 
haps, it is fed with fuel and ore, night and day, Sundays included. Several 
men are kept constantly at work wheeling barrows full of charcoal and of ore, 
to be cast into the insatiable maelstrom of flames. The stack is fed by what 
are called "charges." A charge consists of perhaps thirty bushels of charcoal 
and from 1,100 to 1,400 pounds of ore, and as these charges rapidly follow 
one another, in order to keep the stack full, many thousands of bushels of 
charcoal are being burned, and many tons of ore being melted at the same 
time. Prom 1,500 to 1,700 bushels of charcoal are burned in a day of twenty- 
four hours, and from thirty to thirty- five tons of ore are melted in the same 
time. This quantity of of ore furnishes from fourteen to fifteen tons of iron 
daily or about 100 tons in a week. The charcoal used is obtained from the 
woods of the surrounding region. Continually mixed with the ore and char- 
coal in the stack is a quantity of lime-stone, which serves as a flux to separ- 
ate the iron from the cinder. Of the lime-stone, three to four tons are used 
in twenty-four hours. 

"The roaring flames which permeate the stack from hearth to top are 
only kept up by the continual introduction of powerful blasts of hot air at the 
seat of the fire. The stimulating effect is tremendous. In what is called 
the "wheel house" are huge and powerful bellows, the clatter and mournful 
groaning of which, as they are forced through their labored movements, af- 
fects the unaccustomed ear rather curiously. The water power from the dam 
operates these bellows, which send big blasts of air through a long pipe con- 
necting with the furnace. From the main pipe the air fiows into a bed pipe 
and thence into a tier of siphon pipes, rising into the oven. There are three 
tiers of these siphon pipes, fifteen in a tier, forty-five in all. The pipes of 
each tier are curved like an ox-bow, and the three tiers are connected with 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



85 



each other by m'eans of three bed pipes. The air, as it is carried over and 
over in these siphon pipes, so as to be thoroughly exposed to the heat of the 
furnace, becomes very hot and it is estimated that its pressure, as it comes 
down from the siphon pipes upon the fire, cannot vary much from one pound 
to the square inch. The air is poured upon the fire through what are called 
"tuyeres," these being short entrance pipes leading from a main pipe encir- 
cling the bottom of the stack. There are five tuyeres. They are made of 
iron, and in order to keep their ends, from which the air rushes forth and 
which come in contact with the intensely hot fire, from being melted, they 
are supplied with water chambers which are' continually kept full of water 
pumped from the wheel-house. The water flows from the tuyeres intO' es- 
cape pipes that sink into the ground. At the rear of each tuyere is a glass- 
covered door, through which one can see the fire of the stack. If a tuyere 
should become clogged up at the outlet, the glass, of course, would be dark- 
ened, and the workmen would know what the trouble was, and be able to 
thrust an iron throiugh the aperture caused by the opening of the glass 
door. 

"Prom the hearth of the stack the molten cinder is continually flowing 
out into a channel, from which, before it has entirely cooled, it is dragged 




TOOL-HOUSE NOW STANDING NEAR THE OLD KENT iKUiX MINE. 



off in large slabs, to which the workmen attach grappling irons. Much of this 
cinder is used in repairing the company's dam., and also in improving the 
foundations of the neighboring roads. Once in six hours, or four times in 
twenty-four hoiurs, the iron is cast. On a good-sized plat of ground, near the 
bottom of the stack, a bed composed of common brown moulding sand, is 
made. A number of pieces of wood, of the same shape and length, called 
patterns, are set parallel to- each other, about four inches apart. Each pattern 
is about three and one-half feet long, the width of the bed. Sand is then 
filled in between the patterns and trod down hard. When sand has been thus 
packed to^ the level of the patterns and the latter have been thinly covered 
also with the same material, the patterns are then removed and the spaces 
left vacant by them are ready for the reception of the molten iron. The 
packing used to block up the stack at the foot of the hearth is next removed 
and a molten stream of iron pours forth, runs through an enclosed track to 
a main channel in the bed, which connects at a right-angle with each of the 
small channels. In two minutes the bed is filled with hot iron, which is al- 
lowed tO' cool. Owing toi the shape given to each channel by the pattern, 
there is a central point in each of the cooling bars which renders it weaker 



86 HISTORY OF KENT. 

there than elsewhere, and when the iron is struck at this point by a hand bar, 
it is easily broken into two lengths, each about one and a half feet long. At 
the mouth of each channel a little sand is sprinkled, which has such an effect 
on the cooling iron, that it can easily be severed from the iron in the main 
track by a stroke of a hand bar. On the day when I was at the furnace, a 
bed with sixty-six patterns was made, so that 132 small bars were turned out, 
which with about eighteen bare obtained by breaking the iron in the main 
channel, would make a total of 150 short bars. About four tons of iron are 
usually obtained at one casting. 

"The fire in the stack has, of course, to be constantly watched, and the 
skilled eyes of the workmen are so well trained that they can tell from the 
appearance of the fire in the stack, and the aspect of the molten cinder, as it 
slowly winds out like a sluggish snake, in just what condition the stack 
is at any time, and what quality of iron may be expected at the next casting. 
The veteran foundryman who has charge of the stack is James Barker. He 
has been employed at the furnace since 1838, most of the time in his present 
capacity as superintendent. 

"Fifteen or twenty men are constantly at work around the furnace, and 
about thirty men are employed in all, some of them doing shoveling and like 
labor, for performing which, no knowledge of the iron business is needed. 
Two gangs of men take charge of the furnace; one comes on at noon, and at 
midnight is relieved by the other gang. Each gang is, therefore, twelve 
hours on and twelve hours off in the day of twenty-four hours. 

"A portion of the water power of the Kent Iron Co. is employed in run- 
ning a grist mill, which belongs to the company. Grain of all kinds and 
plaster are ground at this mill." 

Stephen Tobias of Waldpot was one of the first superintendents of 
the Kent iroo mine, and was most active in developing its early resources. 
This gentleman was the seconid son of John Frobin Tobias of Waldpot, 
Waldburg Zell, German baron and Teutonic knight who settled in Sharon 
after the American revolution, having espoused the caujse of the colonies. 
Stephen, the second son, was educated in the family of Hon. John Cotton 
Smith, governor of Connecticut, where he imbibed those principles of strict 
integrity and sterling worth which were ever after his chief characteristics. 
A man of splendid physique, fair haired and having wonderfully beautiful 
blue eyes, he combined the proweiss of a knight of old with the more mod- 
ern accomplishments of an old time gentleman. Excelling in the sports 
and pastimes of the day he was always the champion of the weak and the 
defenseless and the protector of womanhood. 

The iron industry in the Housatonic valley is one of considerable anti- 
quity. As early as 1734, it is said that a blomary forge was erected at Lime 
Rock, in Salisbury and it is certain that before 1740, the Livingstones of New 
York province, had in successful operation at Ancram, a blast furnace and a 
refinery forge. 

In 1762, the celebrated Ethan Allen, with two associates, built a blast 
furnace at Lakeville, which within a few years fell into the hands of one 
Richard Smith of Hartford, who being a Royalist, was compelled to flee to 
England during the Revolution, although the works were kept in active 
operation by the colony of Connecticut during that period, producing great 
quantities of cannon, cannon balls, shells, etc., for the use of the Continental 
army. The blowing apparatus of this furnace consisted of a large leather 



HISTORY OF KENT. 87 

bellows driven by a water wheel. Probably the oldest furnace in Berkshire 
county was that formerly existing at Lenoxdale, which was built in 1766 and 
made iron the following year. This establishment continued in intermittent 
operation for more than a century, not having been demolished until abouc 
1881. During the most prosperous period of the iron industry in this region it 
is said that twenty-seven furnaces were in full operation within a radius of 
30 miles of Lakeville, the greater part of these being in Litchfield county. 
The long acceptance without effective protest, of an industrial policy which 
has been deliberately designed to build up the industries of Pennsylvania at 
the expense of those of New England, has one by one put out these furnace 
fires, until at the present time, only a few are left. 

Prior to 1840, all the iron made in the United States was smelted by the 
use of wood-charcoal fuel. The location of a furnace was originally de- 
termined by the existence of. a sufficicient water power in convenient prox- 
imity to a trustworthy source of ore supply, it being a fortunate circum- 
stance that wherever iron ore is found, it is sure to be accompanied with 
plentiful deposits of limestone for use as a flux. In those days the use of a 
stationary steam engine as a motive power for any purpose was very rare. 
The unusually good quality and great abundance of the hematite iron ores of 
Berkshire and Litchfield; the frequently occurring water powers, and the 
vast tracts of forest which covered the rugged slopes of the Taconics and the 
Green mountains, made this for more than a century an ideal region for the 
successful prosecution of this picturesque and interesting industry. 






CHAPTER VII. 



KENT AS IT IS. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN AT THE PRESENT TIME— PLEASANT DRIVES OF MANY 
MILES— INHAKITANTS, SCENERY, TRADITIONS AND ANECDOTES— BULLS BRIDGE 
ONCE A HIVE OF SMALL INDUSTRIES, BUT NOW PRACTICALLY DESERTED, EXCEPT 
BY A STOREKEEPER AND A FEW FARMERS. 

The long main street of Kent center is one of those attractive thorough- 
fares that can be found in the old settled towns of New England. It is 
shaded the greater part of the way on each side by a row of flourishing trees, 
mostly maples, and both they and the few elms among them are free from 
beetles and other destroying insects, a fact upon which the people of Kent 
should greatly congratulate themselves at a time when pestiferous bugs are 
sapping the life of hundreds of arboreal monarchs in many parts of the 
state. A number of large, fine residences, set amid ample, beautifully 
shaded grounds, line the Main street, among these residences being those 
of Mrs. M, L. Stewart, John and George Hopson, Luther Eaton, Mrs. Haxtun, 
Mrs. Ingersoll, Mrs. Catherine Fuller and C. H. Gaylord. And there are a 
score of other homes in the vicinity which, if not so imposing, are models 
of comfort and attractiveness. 

The street is provided with a private sewer for the use of residents who 
contributed liberally toward its support, and this sewer, throughout its 
length, can be easily and thoroughly flushed by water from the reservoir of 
the Kent Water Company. The sewer has an outlet in the Housatonic river. 
The sewer is an improvement not often found in a village no larger than 
Kent. The public water is furnished to the residents of the entire village 
and it, as well as the sewer, demonstrates Kent's claim to a progressiveness 
not common in a place of its size. 

To drive to the reservoir the road around the Cobble eastward is taken, 
the latter being a long wooded elevation that stretches east of the village 
and continues a considerable distance northward. 

On this road is located Luther Eaton's farm and tobacco warehouse, 
which for many years was used extensively in raising and packing tobacco, 
and further on is the old Swift place. The present house upon it is only 
about fifteen years old, but it is the successor of one of Kent's oldest and 
best known houses, the age of the departed structure being about 150 years. 

The pipe from the reservoir to the village extends under one side of this 
road, and is fed by a pipe frgm Page's Spring. This spring is on a wooded 
height forty feet above the level of the reservoir, and during the greater 

Note.— This chapter is written by Mr. J. A. Bolles, who in his paper, the New Milford 
Gazette, has graphically described many of the neighboring villages. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



89 



part of the year furnishes the village with sufficient water of the purest 
quality without recourse to the larger source of supply. 

A mile and one half from the village, on the east side of the Cobble, is 
the well constructed reservoir, which was built under the superintendence of 
Frank Leonard of Soiith Norwalk in 1881, at a cost of $16,000. The capital 
stock of the company represents |15,000, and, although moderate, even in- 
sufficient dividends arc earned, principally because there are not enough 
water takers in the village to furnish a good revenue at such rents as can 
be feasibly asked and paid, the public spirit which prompted the undertak- 
ing has been amply justified. Besides the diminution of labor and the 
great convenience to householders afforded by the public water, it has been 
the means of saving the village from a serious destruction of property. The 
company furnishes a hose oart and lengths of hose free of charge and hy- 
drants for the attachment of hose, and the value of these appliances has 
three times been effectually demonstrated. A few years ago a bam at the 
upper end of the village caught fire and the flames would have burned an ad- 




DRUG STORK, KENT. 

jacent costly house and perhaps other dwellings, had not the use of the fire 
apparatus conquered the danger. The safeguards were equally useful in 
overcoming two other fires, one in a small cigar shop and another in the 
railroad station. At least $25,000 worth of property has thus been saved 
from destruction. 

The reservoir covers two acres and has a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons. 
Its altitude above the village is 168 feet. A substantial dam holds the water 
back and suitable stone work, where needed, makes firm- the remaining 
sides of the receptacle. The reservoir is fed by water from unfailing springs 
within it and by water brought to it through a six inch pipe from Mill 
brook. There is a suitable outlet for the overflow of water, which runs into 
a riverlet below the reservoir. So particular have the officers of the com- 
pany been to prevent contamination that a neighboring farmer, the drainage 
from whose barnyard threatened to percolate through the ground toward 
the reservoir, was paid a proper sum of money to erect a wall or embank- 
ment which caused the drainage to flow in the opposite direction. 



go 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Through the narrow valley which extends far northward of the reservoir 
between ranges of wooded hills, and abounds in picturesque scenery, lies 
what is known as Flanders, an ancient settlement, which was the business 
center of the region until the modern villaige of Kent on the southward 
plains superseded it. 

Flanders now represents little else besides farming interests, but once 
it contained a tavern, a meeting house, a grist mill, a wagon shop, a black- 
smith's shop, a tailor's shop, tanning works, etc.; and there the important 
town clerk attended to his duties and the village parson lived in spiritual 
blessedness. It was about 1830 that Flanders began to lose its prestige in 
favor of the modern village, its being somewhat apart from the line of the 
railroad no doubt largely accounting for its decline. 

Here is the Burritt Eaton's house, about 150 years old, which was formerly 
a tavern kept by Col. Philo Mills. In the lot back of the tavern the militia 
used to train. Next are the pleasant residences of George R. Bull, Kent Fur- 
nace's worthy and prosperous merchant, and Albert Roberts, which are sit- 
uated at the head of the road leading to Kent Furnace. 




FLLLEK MOUNTAIN SCHOOL. 

Other noteworthy houses were those where Deacon Lewis Mills and 
.lohn Slosson once kept stores. Within the limits of the road on a knoll 
where a flag pole now stands was the site of the old Congregational meeting 
house, long since departed. Rev. Joel Bordwell was its pastor for fifty 
years. Mr. Bissell now lives in what was the Congregational parsonage. 

Here too is the well known Slosson homestead from which a number of 
eminent Slossons, lawyers, judges and the like, have emanated and made 
their ability and influence vigorously felt in places of size and enterprise. 

"Uncle Nathan Slawson," a farmer of the family, was an able man who 
when he saw a good thing knew it. It is related of him that he once played 
a trick on a dude from the eastern coountry who sought to ingratiate him- 
self into the good graces of a family of comely Hubbell girls who lived west 
of the Housatonic river. The dude, or dandy, as would be a more fit word 
to use for that time, assumed a patronizing air on one occasion and hired 
"Uncle Nathan," humble in aspect and commonly dressed, to carry him on 
his back across the river to visit the girls. When they were in the midst 
of the stream, "Uncle Nathan" said, "I shall have to, for twenty-five cents, 
set you down and rest," and thereupon shook off the dandy, completely 
sousing him and his brave fine clothes. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



91 



The North Kent cemetery is a burial yard with a fine modern fence 
about it. This fence is perhaps the best one surrounding a cemetery in 
Litchfield county and cost $2,500, a large sum considering the small area in- 
closed. The posts, erected at frequent intervals, are solid bars of handsome 
stone, each seven feet long, four feet out of the ground and three feet in it, 
each set on a bed of stones and so firmly planted that they may stand for one 
thousand years. Between the posts are solid bars of galvanized iron. 
Seventeen members of the Eaton family are buried here and a handsome 
monument to their memory was erected a few years ago. 

Across Western Brook which perpetuates the memory of a minister 
named Western, on a little rise of ground, is the saw mill of enterprising 
George B. Page. 

Near by is the Berry family homestead. Of one of its occupants, Nathan- 
iel Berry, the following anecdote is told. Before the days of carriages with 
springs Berry owned a big lumber wagon somewhat like those now used 
for carting purposes only. The people went to meeting on horseback and 
in ox carts, and on the advent of the lumber wagons placed in them as 




THE DEVn.'s CHAIR. 

seats double chairs called "wagon chairs." One of these chairs would 
hold two persons and several were usually placed in one wagon, thus accom- 
modating six or eight individuals. 

Deacon Bates lived on one of the hills east of the main road, and was 
praying one morning when Nathaniel's lumber wagon rattled by, just as 
the deacon fervently ejaculated. "Lord, come in thy chariot of fire and take 
me to thyself." The next moment the deacon, jumping up as the ominous 
noise fell upon his startled ears, exclaimed, "Oh, Lord! I never said any- 
thing in jest but what you took me in blood 'arnest;" and, quaking, the 
worthy but not quite prepared man of God hid himself under a bed. 

We went by the old farm formerly owned by James Stuart deceased. 
At the old Eaton place where my companion was born we turned eastward 
into the "Forge Road." At this point the valley northward with its gi-een 
meadows, intersected by the winding river, is fair to look upon. 

On the Forge Road further on the far famed Kent Falls. The stream 
flows a few rods from the road down a long rambling ledge descending 
westward in the midst of a thick growth of trees and bushes. From the 



92 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



most precipitous part of the ledge tlie main falls come from a height of 
fifty feet or more. These falls are divided into two parts, the upper falls 
descending into a good-sized middle basin, and thence the water leaps into 
a second and broader basin hollowed in solid rock. In summer, the falls 
come down in slender but beautiful columns, not more than one hundredth 
the size of the rushing foaming torrents which in the spring leap, casting 
clouds of spray and fascinating the eye with their marvelous beauty. There 
is a spot in the middle basin which is said to be thirty or forty feet deep. 
In the lower basin is a circular hollow, rounded by madly circling waters 
so as exactly to resemble the interior of a huge cauldron. In the rocks 
abont the falls is a big hole or cave called the "Meeting House." 

Among the various basins below the falls is one which was once called 
the "Pork Barrel," by a man named Mills who claimed the ownership or con- 
trol of it. Mills was a great fisherman and reserved the choice Pork Barrel 
where big trout lay ensconced, for his own exclusive use. Mills was a kind- 
hearted man and, whenever a neighbor was sick and in need of something to 




OLD ASA SLADE HOUSE, IJEMOLISHED IN 1895. 

tempt the appetite would go to the Pork Barrel and catch a fine trout for 
him. But Mills was jealous of his rights, and onoe when a man named 
Studley attempted to fish in the pool, he picked up stonies and from a vantage 
point among the bushes threw the missiles so effectively at the intruder that 
he was glad to beat a hasty retreat. 

Mills and Ezra Eaton once had an amusing experience. Eaton had been 
fishing in the Housatonic river and his boat lay on the shore. Mills came 
along and picking up the catch of fish made off with it and kept it tempo- 
rarily in a spirit of fun. The fish had forked tails, and Mills assumed that 
all forked-tailed fish belonged to him and all square-tailed fish to Isaac Nogar. 
Baton went fishing another time and Mills was on hand at the boat again, 
but Eaton had cunningly "squared" the tails of the fish with his knife so 
that Mills was obliged to say, "I can make no claim to these fish; they be- 
long to Nogar." 

The lower falls are pleasing, but are not so high or picturesque as the 
upper ones. The railroad is not far distant, and in the winter when the 



HISTORY OF KENT. 93 

trees are free of leaves, the water of both falls can be easily seen from 
where the cars pass. 

It seemed strange to be told that this now secluded and thickly wooded 
place was, in old times, the site of mills and other industries requiring 
strong water power; but such was the case and it afforded another illustra- 
tion, such as the remnants of dams and forges afford in the Bulls Bridge 
and Masedonia regions, how the small but flourishing industries that once 
enlivened the banks of streams in Connecticut, and also in other New Eng- 




KK.NT PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

land states, have departed, in favor of modern enterprises which concen- 
trate business in large establishments at tide water and utilize the steam en- 
gine. 

An attempt was made to open a marble quarry near the falls, but the 
scheme was a "fake" one, and the innocent victims of the speculators lost 
much money. 

The Kent Falls are a favorite resort for picnickers who on the southern 
bank shaded by pine trees, do their cooking in a fireplace made of stones. 

BULLS BRIDGE. 

That part of Kent known as Bulls Bridge is two and one-half miles from 
South Kent and one and one-half miles at its nearest point to the railroad. 
The road at Bulls Bridge intersects the highway from South Kent to South 
Dover, N. Y. The road leading from the depot al Merwinsville is a pleasant 
drive, l^eing much of the way near the wooded banks ofthe Housatonic river. 
The first object of striking interest to notice is a commanding hill. Owl Town 
Mountain, with Pickett's Rocks standing out from surrounding trees on the 
summit as if it were a natural fort. This elevation rises east of the roayd. 

The mail is carried between Bulls Bridge and Gaylordsville for the mu- 
nificent sum of thirty-nine cents a day. 

A little south of Bulls Bridge in a lot west of the road is the cemetery 
of the place, showing numerous grave stones within a small area. If indus- 
trial growth constitutes what is most desirable in a place, it was unfor- 
tunate for Bulls Bridge that the railroad did not run through it, as at one 



94 HISTORY OF KENT. 

time was planned. But, on the other hand, the lover of the beautiful can see 
something fortunate in the circumstances which protected Bulls Bridge 
from the roar of the great world and left it sequestered and almost as pictur- 
esque as in its pristine days before the white man came and made his wide 
clearings. 

The center of Bulls Bridge is where the roads from Gaylordsville to Kent 
and from South Kent to South Dover cross at right aagles. The hamlet com- 
prises a few houses, a country store and a "tabernacle." Two of these houses 
are good sized and attractive white structures set in ample yards. They 
stand on opposite sides of the South Kent road. The house on the north is 
the home of Mott Judd, father of Jerome Judd. Mott Judd is a pleasant gen- 
tleman, a fitting representative of the better class of New England farmers. 
Alonzo Mallory, formerly a railroad man, now a farmer, occupies the house 
on the south. 

Mott Judd's sister, Mrs. Flora Millspaugh, keeps house for him. Her hus- 
band was a man of ability. He built the house where Mr. Mallory now lives 
and laid out an extensive flower garden in which at one time sixty-nine dif- 



i;llls i;kiuge ahout 1870. 

ferent kinds of flowers grew. He invented a kerosene tester and was the 
author of a useful book entitled, "Kerosene Accidents and How to Prevent 
Them." 

On Mott .Tudd's farm is a tenant house occupied by Patrick McGarry. 
West of Mr. Judd's home is an ancient house where the aged but active Eli- 
sha Potter resides. On the south side of the road nearly opposite Mr. Pot- 
ter's house and within a few rods of the covered bridge that crosses the 
Housatonic river are the store, and four houses. Of the three houses on the 
bank of the river one is vacant and the other two are occupied by the families 
of Minot Stevens and Joseph Wilcox. The fourth house, quite a large one, 
at the rear of the store, is owned by Charles Stone. Charles Stone is the 
business genius of the place. His restless and planning mind is fully alive 
to the great future which awaits Bulls Bridge, it being a spot, where, except 
at Falls Village, by far the best unutilized water power of the Housatonic 
river is located. The ruins of an iron furnace stand on the river bank a short 
distance from Mr. Stone's house. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



95 



North of Elisha Potter's house is the noted "Tabernacle," once a saloon 
but redeemed for God's work by the Free Methodists. Now union services are 
held in it and fervent flows of religiousfeeling are frequent. The so-called 
"parsonage" beside the "tabernacle" is the home of Frank Ashmond and 
family. Rev. E. B. Hawley is the sponsor for this good work in changiag a 
saloon into a gosipel shop. 

At the furnace a brick kiln rises amid a massive ruin of rocks that once 
stood solidly around it. Just west of the ruins a large wall stands intact. 
Its base is washed by the rapidly flowing waters of the river. Much money 
was expended in the construction of the furnace and it was once the nucleus 
of a large business, which flourished long before the railroad was built. 
Probably 200 mien were employed at the furnace and in the carting work 
connected with it. The oire was broiught from Clove, Dutchess coiuinty, N. Y., 
a distance Oif fifteen miles, and twentj'-one toamis employed in the wo^rk 
could frequently be counted in line on the arrival at Bulls Bridge. Elisha 
Potter was one of the teamsters. 









, k 


[i^f^ » 


-?^j 






WM 


3 







r.ULLs i;rid(;e. 

The iron or finished product was carted to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the cost 
for taking a ton there being $5. Iron then sold for $60 a ton, now the price 
is about $20 a ton. Scotch pig iron was then the kind which had the big- 
gest reputation for good quality, and the iron made at Bulls Bridge was fully 
equal to it. The me beds in the south an^d west were at that tim^e not at all 
or little utilized, and untrammeled by formidable competition, the iron in- 
dustry fioiurished in the Housatonic valley. In those good and prosperous 
days moire people lived at and about Bulls Bridge than at present. It is said 
that sixty children attended school, whereas now the number is but twelve. 

The furnace was built in 1826, and at the time of the civil war was 
known as the Monitor Iron Works because iron made there was used in 
the construction of ironclad vessels. 

Frederick .1. Fenn, one of the owners of the blast furnace, removed to 
Salisbury. He was the victim of a sad misfortune. A keg of powder was 
exploded in a seam amid the rocks at the furnace. Mr. Fenn stood too 
near, and was struck in the eyes by particles of the stome, which rendered, 
him totally blind. 



96 



HISTORY OF KENT, 



Tim Lannigan, an employe at the furnace, fell into the river near it and 
was drowned. While men were searching for the body some odd sugges- 
tions were made. One was that a candle be placeid in a bundle of straw 
which, it was asserted, would float to that part of the water under which 
the body lay. A wag claimed, inasmuch as the deceased was an Irishman, 
that a potato should be attached to a string for the purpose of "skiddering" 
for Tim. 

The corpse was finally recovered without reconrse to the extraordinary 
expedients. There was a big wake over the remains and at the funeral tho 
widow frequently and lustily cried: "Oh Tim, why did ye come to America 
to be drowned!'' 

Beside the furnace is a beautiful grove where the Sunday school children 
from Kent frequently hold picnics. Just east of the grove are the ancient 
remains of the Bulls Bridge cemetery. A few badly broken stones lie askew 
beneath a canopy of regardless sumacs. 

The chief attraction at Bulls Bridge is the falls. They begin a few 
rods above the bridge, tumbling many feet down a ledge that extends from 




FALLS ABOVE BULLS BRIDGE. 

bank to bank. Boiling and dangerous are the torrents and swifter in their 
course than is the arrow's flight. Prom the first falls the river gradually 
descends fo^r many rods over a slanting surface of rock, at places jutting up- 
wards sufficiently to cause other and lesser falls. The shores in the vicinity 
of the falls are wooded, picturesque and winding, appropriately bounding 
the dashing waters. The place is named after Jacob Bull, who over a 
hundred and twenty-five years ago was given permission to erect a grist mill 
and iron works at this point. Mr. Bull came from Dover, N. Y. 

It used to be said that Bulls Bridge was noted for three things, "lamper 
eels, bull beef and handsome women." The reference to bull beef was a hit 
on John Chamberlain, a butcher called "Leather Wheels." He was an orig- 
inal character, and devised singular nicknames foir his associates, which are 
well remembered to this day. Some of these names were: "Hardack," 
"Swing Clear," "Major," "Enoch," "Broad Horns," "Old Hail Cut," "Forlorn 
Dove," "John Harmless," and "Nogar." 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



97 



A short distance from the home of Henry Spooner, on the west side of the 
river from Bulls Bridge, one soon comes to the house of Martin B. Lane, once 
a conductor on the Housatonic railroad. Mr. Lane is now a farmer and 
also the agent who manages the property of the descendants of the Scata- 
cook Indians. He submits an account of his stewardship annually to the 
Court of Common Pleas in this county. 

Between Scatacook mountain and the river there is but a narrow strip 
of valley land. The mountain rises precipitously to a great height and must 




HULT,S liRIUGE SCHOOL HOUSE. 

be at least two miles long. It is densely wooded and in summer time it pre- 
sents a grand bank of luxuriant foliage, which can be best seen by the trav- 
eler on the east side of the river. The road beneath the mountain, with the 
winding stream on the right hand is full of attractioms. It is not unfittin.^ 
that in so romantic a region, at the south end of Scatacook mountain, the 
few last families of the Indians who were once the sole masters of the coun- 
try should have their dwelling place. 



MACEDONIA. 

The scenery along the route from Bulls Bridge to Kent is pleasing. A 
fine view can be obtained of Scatacook mountain, rising a short distance west 
of the stream. 

Along this route are the homes of .lohn Newton, a well-to-do farmer, 
Edwai-d Gregory and Charles Lee. Mr. Gregory is a bold companion of Geo. 
Coggswell, the noted snake hunter, whose home stands opposite Mr. Gregory's 
on the west side of the river. The two men have often visited Rattlesnake 
Den and together have fearlessly slaughteTed many of the venomous rep- 
tiles. 

Charles Lee is a jovial farmer, a Democrat in poilitics, who represented 
Kent in the House of Representatives in 1893. It is said that the late 
Charles Edwards, once delivered a lecture in schoolhouses in Kent and vicin- 
ity, asking a small price for admission and using the funds thus obtained foi 
the benefit of a needy neighboir. The lecture was full of local hits and 
abounded in humor. In it full explanation was given to the nicknames, 



98 HISTORY 0F KENT. 

"Leather Wheels," "Old Hail Cut," etc., to which reference has been made in 
a previous aj*ticle. 

The lecture gained such celebrity that it was finally decided to print it 
in pamphlet form. It is thought that a few copies of this pamphlet are still 
extant. 

Birdsey G. Pratt was born in Macedonia and lived on a farm a good part 
of his life and is well acquainted with Macedonia and all the surrounding 
country. The traveler, not acquainted with the past, who journeys through 
this region, now quiet and unambitious in appearance, the abiding place 01 
farmers, little dreams that it was onoe a busy manufacturing center. Mr. 
Pratt, who can remember when Macedonia was an important place, feels sad 
when he thinks of the glory that is no more. 

Macedonia lies west and northwest of the village of Kent and is sep- 
arated from it by a long elevation called Pismire Hill, followed toward ths 
northern part of the valley by Pond mountain, leading west from which is a 




OLD MILL AT KENT FURNACE. 

third hill, known as Stone's Ledges. The valley is a beautiful spot, like 
that described by Whittier in his poemof Barbara Frietchie: 

"Fair as the garden of the Lord, 
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde." 

The Macedonia Brook, a stream of considerable size and force, runs 
through the center of the valley. 

The old Gilbert place, once the home of the brothers, John, Allen and 
Henry Gilbert, all of whom are dead, is now the home of F. H. Gilbert, a 
son of Allen. The brothers were shoemakers and conducted a large tannery 
which stood a little north of their house near the present residence of John 
Duncan. On the opposite side of the road was a, cemetery. At present it is 
a plowed field, all efforts to preserve its graves and to maintain its sacred 
character having been abandoned. 

Near by is the house once the home of Dwight Chamberlain, a relative of 
President Dwight of Yale college. Here is the Macedonia wagon shop, es- 
tablished in 1847, where a thriving business was conducted by the brothers, 
Norman, Allen and Linus Winegar. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



99 



The water of a stream flowing north of the shop turned the big overshot 
wheel, the power moving a saw, and felloes and other wood pieces needed in 
the construction of carriages were sawed out. The father of the brothers was 
Bcecher Winegar, who had a little wagon shop where a pump stands in the 
yard of the house just north of the old wagon shop. A short distance from 
here is the commodious and pleasant residence of Deacon L. W. Stone and 
near by is the school house, from which a remarkably fine view of the south- 
ern portion of the valley can be obtained, showing a long stretch of beauti- 
ful meadows and Cobble and Algo mountains beyond them. 

Near where the old road turns northward from an easterly course, is the 
only dam left on the Macedonia Brook. Here was the site of the large pud- 
dling works, which were run by the Kent Iron Company. Probably twemty- 
five men were employed in the puddling operations alone, not to speak of 
the many teamsters and other workmen connected with them. All kinds 
of wrought iron work, such as crow-bars, wagon tires, etc., were made and 
sent in great quantities to Poughkeepsie, New Haven and Bridgeport. 

The overseer of the work was Eber S. Peters, who also conducted near by 
the saw mill which is now successfully managed by his son, J. H. Peters. 
He lives in a handsome stone house nearly opposite his mill. In the third 
building he keeps a store. 

The Kent Iron company established the Macedonia store in a large old 
fashioned building. Later the proprietors were Charles Edwards and Squire 
Rufus fuller. In the manufacturing days this building, where now a private 
family dwells in seclusion, was a lively place and did a big business, being 
a center where the people from miles around gathered. In front of the store 
were scales and a platform for weighing big loads of coal, iron and other 
things. Teams were constantly arriving and departing and there was a great 
bustle. 

In the neighboring stream is an old dam still in good condition. Here 
a cider mill stood. The owner was Zachariah Winegar, who lived in a large 
brick house which stands opposite the site of a defunct grist mill, the lat- 
ter being a little north of the cider mill. Edward Schermerhorn conducted 
the grist mill. The brick house is two stories high, and was considered the 
finest house in the region at the time it was built. After Zachariah, his son, 
Anson Winegar owned the house, and it is at present the home of Mrs. 
Frances Barnum, a daughter of Anson. 

The next place of interest is Forge Hill, where what was called the 
"second forge" stood. At the foot of this hill on the east is the entrance 
to a road which crosses a bridge and leads to Fuller mountains. At the sec- 
ond forge were stamping works where shot iron was stamped out of the 
cinder, from the fui'nace. 

At the blast furnace were made thousands of tons of pig iron and hun- 
dreds of bushels of charcoal were burned to make the iron. The ore was 
hauled from South Kent, Amenia and Salisbury; all told, hundreds of 
people were employed to keep the furnace running. The charcoal was made 
on the mountains near by. Limestone used in the furnace was all hauled 
from the east side of the Housatonic river, as there was none on the west 
side in Kent. Near the furnace were large coal houses and a blacksmith 
shop. Trees and shrubs cover the ground, and the traveler sees scarcely 
anything to remind him that he is passing a place where an extensive bus- 



lOO HISTORY OF KENT. 

iness was done forty years ago. The chief reminder of the iron industry 's 
the dark color 6f the highway, noticeable all the way betweien the first and 
second forges. The gi-ound is still specked with the cinders that emanated 
from the forges. 

SOUTH KENT. 

The village of South Kent is a ^mall place, only four hoaises in the cen- 
ter and two houses in the suburbs, so to sipeak. But it represents a lot of 
enterprise; for it is here that Fred H. Chase has demonstrated the large pos- 
sibilities of the country store when it is situated in a favorable spot and run 
at a minimum of expense. 

Mr. Chase is now South Kent's leading business man, and he is well en- 
titled to the honor. One dozen years ago he bought of William Geer the 
small and ancient grocery store of the place. Geer had run the store a 
year only. His predecessor was Edwards Dakins, who made a snug sum of 
money from the business, after he bought it of a man named Segar. It 
was an old stand, but it remained foi' Chase to make it a noteworthy es- 
tablishment. 

He had $600 in cash and $2,100 borrowed money when be took possession 
of the small grocery, and to-day he is a well-to-do citizen, even a rich one for 
a small country place. Close to the railroad station stands his store and 
dwelling house, a good sized and good looking structure. South is a feed 
store, it being the remodeled building formerly occupied by the small gro- 
cery, and north of the main store is Mr. Chase's latest building, a structure 
100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 22 feet high. 

It is fitted up in modern style with tanks of cool water for the reception 
of the milk in cans, and a churn run by steam power. The second floor 
contains a room for cheese making and a large space for the storage and 
grinding of grain, the mill for grinding being run by the steam engine on 
the first floor. At the east end of the building is an apartment for the ice 
needed in the creamery, capacity for storage being 600 tons, ice being ob- 
tained from Hatch's pond a short distance from the station. 

The four houses in the immediate vicinity of the station ai'e those of 
Walter Page, VanNess Case, Miss Emiline Fanton and John Burkhardt. All 
are farmers and Mr. Page runs a distillery and cider mill. Miss Fanton al- 
though eighty-two years old, is alert and businesslike, a fine specimen of 
the old fashioned American housewife. Her farm is managed by a compe- 
tent man, but she has general oversight. 

Another thing worthy of mention is tbe railroad station, about the size 
of an umbrella, which is ably managed by Store-keeper Chase, who waves a 
red flag for trains to stop, but has no tickets to sell. Then there is a little 
ancient history of particular interest. There have been six hotels in the 
place, usually one at a time, which were frequented in days before the rail- 
road when cattle drovers were thick on the roads. 

The former name of the village was Pigtail Corners or Hopson Corners, 
the name Pigtail, according to tradition, being adopted because one neigh- 
bor got angry at another neighbor and cut off the tail of his enemy's pig. 

Following the Bulls Bridge road westward, one passes the John Straight 
farm now owned by Mr. John Judd. It is one of the largest and best farms 
in the town of Kent. Adjoining this farm are the premises of Miss Helen 
Straight, a most competent woman farmer. 

Ascending Turkey Hill, one comes to the house of Robert Boyd. Mr. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Boyd is a good farmer, Ms buildings and well cultivated acres showing the 
care and enterprise of the thorough manager. From the summit of Tur- 
key Hill, so called because wild turkeys in old times used to alight on it hi 
great numbers during their expeditions, a fine view can be had of the valley 
through which flows the Housatonic river and of the noble Scatacook range 
beyood. At the foot Oif the hill is the fine home of William Newton, a well- 
to-do farmer. After turning north into the road leading over Spooner Hill 
one passes the home of Nathaniel Dwy, also those of Oharles L. Spooner and 
Simeo>n Griffin. At this point one can look down into a shelving valley, where 
enclosed on three sides by picturesque hills lies the beautiful little Leonard 
Pond. Bast of the pond is Leonard Mountain, north of it Cobble Mountain 
and west of it an elevation of Spooner Hill. 

Where the road turns eastw^ard to join the main road from South Kent 
to Kent, is the old John Spooner place. John Spoo'ner was a noted cattle 
dealer in his day. A little south of the junction of the roads is the farm of 
Mott Darling, a thrifty tiller of the soil, and a little north of the junction 
is the house of another farmer, Jerome Leonard. 




TEACHERS AND BOARD OF SCHOOL VISITORS OF KENT, l8g5. 

Up the main road from Soaith Kent a short distance is the house of John 
Orton, nearly opposite Leonard Pond. On returning to South Kent via the 
main road one passes the hoiises oi Seth Monroe and Leonard Unson, who 
lives on the boTders of Hatch Pond. A little south of Mr. Unson's house is 
the abode and shop of Ephraim Merrit, blacksmith and general repairer of 
the region. 

Near by is the school house, a small red structure, humble enough but 
celebrated now as the place where a rising young business man obtained all 
his book education. The young man referred to is young John Burkhardt of 
South Kent village. Mr. Burkhardt is now traveling salesman for a large 
New York firm and his employers consider him the best drummer in the New 
En gland states. 

About ten years ago there was a curious landslide fi^om the hill east of 
Hatch Pond. Tons of earth suddenly left a high bed and made a double 
quick run over a stretch of meadow, across the railroad track into the lake. 
The thundering noise came in the midst of the night and aroused the inhab- 
itants, terrifying them mightily. Hatch Pond is about a mile long and is a 
celebrated resort of fishermen from New Milford, Danbury and other places. 



I02 HISTORY OF KENT. 

The old house, a cut of which is shown on pagie 92, is supposed to have 
been the oldest one in town. It was demolished in 1895 and was owned at that 
time by Hiram J. Wildman, who still retains the ground, on which he in- 
tends to build a summer hotel. A Dr. Raymond lived there a long time ago. 
After him John McCoy occupied it as a hotel. Next Asa Slade lived in it and 
kept a store in one part. This was in the time of the famous Maine law and 
Slade used to sell an equally famous "Schiedam Schnapps" for sickness. When 
a customer wished to buy he would say "I suppose it is for sickness." The 
reply was usually in the affirmative. After Slade, Frederick Mallory lived 
there till his death in the spring of 1895. The house was then sold to Wildman 
and his family went West. It was known to the older inhabitants as the old 
Asa Slade house and to the younger ones as the Old Mallory house. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PROSPECTS OF THE OLD FARMS. 



THE LAND WHICH WAS ONCE I'ROFITAHLV TILLED IN THIS VICINITY HAS GKADUALLV 
DEGENERATED, AND MUCH THAT WAS FORMERLY CULTIVATED, IS NOW EITHER 
GIVEN UP TO PASTURE, OR TO WOODLAND, OR IS WHOLLY ABANDONED — IT MAY 
HAVE VALUE \'KT. 

A drive through the valleys or over the hills of Kent while picturesque 
and interesting furnishes a study as to its future as an agricultural or dairy 
community. Like all New Biigland when taken from its primeval condition 
its soil was rich; its productiveness was bountiful, and the crops it yielded 
were abundant. This continued for years, but it could not go on forever. The 
farmer disregarded what in any other line would have been regarded as ruin 
from the start. Year after year he sapped its life, never hesitating to take 
everything it wouid yield, but seldom, if ever returning the fertilization i't 
required. He was generally slack in all his work. His barns were seldom 
painted. They were not even warm. There were plenty of cracks large 
enough to let snow fall across the animals housed therein, and they in 
turn required more feed to keep them alive — to say nothing about being com- 
fortable. The few crude implements in use in olden days received no care. 
Plows usually stood all winter where last used, and sleds and carts were rare- 
ly sheltered if ever painted. Fire wood was cut and burned green, getting 
the least benefit that could be derived from it. 

As one after another old cellar hole is passed one cannot but reflect: 
Suppose in these good old days farming had been carried on scientifically and 
in a business-like way? Suppose theold land which yielded a liberal inter- 
est had been given something in return? Suppose the old home had been 
made cheerful and entertaining for the children, and that while they could 
have been given a certain amount of work to do, they were not compelled 
to be slaves from early morn until late at night? Suppose that common 
sense and sunshine instead of drudgery and darkness had been the life of 
these pioneers, would Kent and its neighboring towns have so many of these 
abandoned homes? We answer no. The intelligence of enlightenment is 
coming, and what our ancestors were ignorant of— practical, scientific farm- 
ing—will yet come to the relief of such towns as Kent and repopulate its 
hills and valleys. 

An interesting paper written by Mr. R. S. Hinman, chief clerk in the 
office of the secretary of the state and a resident of the neighboring town 
of Oxford, covers this subject so thoroughly and applies fittingly to this ter- 
ritory, we quote from it as follows: 

"There has been so much said and written of the abandoned farms of 
Connecticut and the other New England states of late, that my theme may 



I04 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



seem a little worn, but I believe there are phases of it worthy of considera- 
tion. Some years ago I had occasion to transact a little business with a 
Dutchess county, New York, farmer. Learning that I came from Connecti- 
cut, he expressed his surprise at the thriftiness of Connecticut farmers. 
He owned a hundred acres of land in what is known as the Oblong Valley, 
worth a hundred dollars an acre, and only got a living, but over in Con- 
necticut the farm-houses were painted, picket fences separated the front yard 
from the highway and there was a general air of thrift about the premises, 
while, so far as he could see, there was not so much decent farming land in 
a whole township as there was on this farm. TO' get the full force of the 
gentleman's surprise one needs to drive through the richest part of Dutchess 
county, in which the Oblong Valley lies, and then across into Connecticut. 
Ever since I have been familiar with that country I have contended that the 
Knickerbockers that sailed up the Hudson and settled along its shores took 
up the land as far east of that noble stream as they considered it habitable 
and left the rest for Connecticut. 




ONE OF THE OLD FARMS. 

"A few months ago I came across an article in a popular magazine writ- 
ten by a Southern woman who evidently considered herself better posted. 
Its title was 'The Gray Cabins of New England.' 

"The impression that one not conversant with the facts would get from 
this good lady's description would be that the farmhoiuses of New England 
are little one-story, unpainted affairs in which, in these latter days, there 
commonly dwell one or two lonesome old maids or a morose old bachelor 
and his still more morose old maid sister. During the day, when their dys- 
pepsia will allow of labor, these unfortunate beings do what they can to keep 
body and soul together, and when night comes they hug a fast cooling stove 
while they brood over the misfortunes of their fallen race. When at last 
death ends their sufferings all they can expect is that the grass and weeds 
will be scraped away from a little spot of ground in the nearest graveyard, 
a hole dug, and the last sad rites performed over a descendant of the Puri- 
tans. That the author of the article was as ignorant of her subject as one 
of the poor Southern whites with whom she is undoubtedly familiar is quite 
true, but I doubt whether she really intended to libel the good people of 
New England. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



'5 



"She had read, undoubtedly, much about the abandoned farms of New 
England, and drew upon her knowledge of farm life among poor people and 
her imagination for a description of the farmhouses of New England and 
the people that inhabited them. 

"But we must allow that we have deserted farms. I have in mind a 
piece of land, facing the northwest, so. full of boulders and fast rocks that, 
upon an average, I doubt if a furrow five feet in length could be continu- 
ously turned, and that never had anything but a thin, poor soil. A gentle- 
man now living, who in his old age rides a bicycle for exercise, has told me 
that when he was in his teens he and his brother-in-law planted that field 
with corn on shares, the owner, if I remember aright, taking half the crop. 
Those two young men possibly got fifty cents per day, boarded themselves and 
were content. That field has never been tilled since and it is not likely to be, 
imless in the distant future there comes a time when fifty cents per day is the 
best wages a young Connecticut farmer can earn and board himself. God 
grant that sudh time may not come in our day. Within sight of this field 
that I have been telling you of there lives a pioneer. Some ten or twelve 




SOiMF. OLD RELICS. 

years ago he bought a stump lot for $2 or $3 per acre and put up as a dwell- 
ing a cross between a wood chopper's shanty and a Western dug out and what 
he calls his barn. The entire outfit of buildings aside from his own labor, 
did not probably cost him $50. 

"The place is half a mile through sprout land from the nearest highway, 
and here he and his wife and one son live. He has plenty of muscle and en- 
ergy and now has the stumps and stones cleared from a patch of ground as 
big as a well-to-do farmer's garden ought to be. 

"His little new land farm is, however, wonderfully productive, and be- 
sides growing vegetables for the family it supplies him with onions, celery, 
strawberries and other things that he takes to market and exchanges for rum 
and molasses, and such minor articles as he and his family need. His suc- 
cess shows that no land in Connecticut need be abandoned if men can be 
found willing to work as the early settlers of this county worked, and live 
as they lived. But some one may tell me of easily-tilled land, easily access- 
ible, and apparently once productive that has long been unused and is now 



io6 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



grown up to brush. I grant it. The very fact that it was so easily tilled and 
so easy to get at worked its ruin. Taking crop after crop from any land and 
returning nothing will in time render it fit only for abandonment. Such land 
may be restored by fertilizing, but the cost is too great for competition with 
cheap, new, Western land. When Uncle Sam gets through giving us all a 
farm such land is liable to again be cleared up, and if left long enough to it- 
self nature will to some extent restore Its fertility. Aside from the rough 
land unsuitable for farming at the wages a fanner of to-day can earn, and the 
land that has been despoiled by covetous owners, there are undoubtedly 
many thousand acres of excellent pasture land in Connecticut practically 
abandoned. 

"When a Connecticut farmer could loan his money to a Western compeii- 
tor at eight or t-en per cent., it was a great temptation to let the brush grow 
on his farm, and take his interest rather than hire help to cut his brush. 




OLD SUOAR CAMP. 

"When Comiecticut passed a law allowing the registration of notes and 
bonds at low rate of taxation, the farmers of a Litchfield county town sent to 
the state treasurer's office something like $60,000 worth of evidences of West- 
ern indebtedness. Had that money been used in cutting hard hack, improv- 
ing highways and maintaining the value of the real estate of the town, there 
might not have been so great an apparent profit, but the town would have 
been more than $60,000 richer now. If two manufacturers were to start in 
the same village at the same time and one loaned his profits to the other to 
keep up and enlarge his plant, while the lender allowed his buildings and 
machinery to rot out and wear out, it w^ould take but a few years to make one 
a prosperous manufacturer, while the other could take what was due him and 
abandon his plant. Very many Connecticut farmers have for years past been 
doing altogether too much in the way of booming the business of others. 
Said a friend: 'This subject is a good one, for there are scores of deserted 
farm houses and cellars where farm houses onoe stood, go where you will 
in Connecticut.' 

"This is quite true, but it does not follow that we are poorer. 

"Let me give you an example. In my boyhood days there stood near a 
by-way that I travel over in going to an outlying farm, what would be 



-v 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



107 



known as a farm-house. The owner had a little farm, kept a horse and cow, 
possibly two cows some times, and made and mended boots and shoes. The 
old shoemaker died years ago and shoe-making as an individual industry died 
about the same time. The farm-house is gone also, only the site remains, 
and the little farm is deserted. I have offered double what the house, barn 
and farm brought the last time it was sold, about thirty years ago. for the 
land alone, but the owner, employed in a nearby city, thinks he may come 
back to the country to live some time and prefers to let it grow up to brush 
in the meantime. Again it must be remembered that it required more people 
to raise the same crop on the same land years ago than now. Mowing ma- 
chines, horse rakes and cultivators take the place of men, but do not require 
farm-houses. The man that sits on a mowing machine to-day gets double 
the pay that the old scythe swinger got, but he and a pair of horses can 
do as much in a day as the dwellers in half a dozen of the houses that are 
gone, because not needed under present conditions. When you allow for the 
farm-houses, once plenty all over New England, occupied by shoemakers, 




AN OLD APPLE TREE. 

wheelwrights, tailors and people engaged in other industries that are now 
concentrated in our cities and boroughs, and for those occupied by people, 
who, living as farm help lived fifty years ago, could plant a rocky hillside 
with com on shares, or work for fifty cents a day, you will account for all 
the old sites. And when you find a farm-house fit to live in or a farm upon 
which a living, as we now live, can be made, deserted, it is because the own- 
er's profit or pleasure takes him away from it and he does not choose to sell. 

"It is the misfortune of Connecticut that, through mismanagement, 
many hundred acres of her soil have beem made unproductive, but it is not 
her misfortune that her citizens can live more comfortably than of yore 
and are not compelled to wrestle with her rocky hillsides and worn-out fields. 

"While a vast amount of the abandoned land of Connecticut can, without 
doubt, profitably remain abandoned, there is much that the frugal, industri- 
ous man can reclaim. Farms that the owners have left because they had ob- 
tained more profitable employment or because they were not fitted for farm- 
ers or farm life, although they may look somewhat untidy owing to dilapi- 
dated buildings and fences and the growth of brush and weeds are, I believe, 
if they can be bought at their value, safer as investments than much of the 



io8 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



new Western land. While there are mortgaged farms in Connecticut and 
fanners in debt, failures are rare in comparison with thoseof persons engaged 
in other industries. Connecticut farmers are not, as a class, asking for a 
50-cent dollar to pay their indebtedness with, and they are not asking for 
laws to hamper the collection of honest debts. While I have known of a few 
cases in Connecticut where farms have been taken by foreclosure, it has 
always been under conditions that would have produced a like result what- 
ever business the owner was engaged in. 

"While the state would surely be richer if frugal, industrious people 
bought and reclaimed our abandoned farms, this is not a matter that should 
specially interest us as farmers. 

"When dull times came on a few years ago four abandoned farms with- 
in two miles of me were occupied by purchasers or by tenants who had been 
thrown out of profitable employment. To-day instead of buying farm pro- 
ducts of me or my neighbors, these people are selling in competition with us. 
Two of these farms are occupied by foreigners, and as tliey live economical- 




\veic;hts and measures used ioo years ago. 

ly and all, men, women and children, work, they can undersell me. This 
may be an advantage to citizens of Connecticut who buy farm products, but I 
fail to see where my profit comes in. The other two farms were bought by 
men who have money to burn. They are both as yet customers of ours, and 
I doubt whether they will ever be able with profit to themselves to sell farm 
products at less than I can. If the taxable value of the property is increased, 
the state is benefited, but as taxpayers our share is minute in comparison 
with what we lose by the competition, as producers, of the industrious, fru- 
gal class of occupants of deserted farms. When deserted farms are taken 
by gentlemen to whom farming is a fad and who look upon the farm as an 
amusement like a yacht or a stable of trotting or running horses we can all 
get some benefit. They are quite sure to spend money and benefit the labor- 
ing people in the neighborhood, and equally as sure to make experiments 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



109 



that observing neighbors can derive benefit from witliout expense to thenfi- 
selves. This class of purchasers of abandoned farms should be welcomed and 
encouraged by everybody. Money spent in increasing the value of Connecti- 
cut real estate is, in my opinion, much better spent than in yacht building or 
horse racing. 

"As patriotic citizens we may advocate measures for the reclaiming of 
abandoned land by frugal, industrious people, but as farmers, looking to our 
own interests, we should instead advocate the starting of every mill wheel 
and the building up of industries that will give us a market for what we 
produce." 



_l 



OLD SHEEP MARKS. 



REPRESENTATIVES 



FROM 1757 TO 1896 



TOWN OFEICERS 



KROM 1850 TO 1S96 



Representatives from 1757 to 1896. 



1757 — Jabez Swift. 

1758-59— Jabez Swift, Daniel Lee. 

1760— Jabez Swift, Daniel Lee. 

1761— Cyrus Marsh, Nathan Eliot. 

17G2— Cyrus Marsh, Nathan Eliot 
Eliphalet Comstock. 

1763— Cyrus Ma^rsh, Nathan Eliot 
Captain John Hitchcock. 

1764-5— Cyrus Marsh 
bell, jr. 

1766 — John Ram son, 

stock, Cyrus Marsh. 

1767 — John Ramson, Eliphalet 
stock, Cyrus Marsh. 

1768 — John Ramson, Elisha 
Daniel Lee. 

1769— Ephraim Hubbell, jr.. 
Swift. 

1770 — John Ransom, Joseph 
Elisha Swift, Captain 
Averill. 

1771 — Captain Justus Sackett, 

Pratt, Ephraim Hubbell. 

1772-4 — Captain Justus Sackett, Nathan 
Elliot, Epraim Hubbell, jr. 

1775— Captain Bliphlet Whittlesey, 
Ephraim Hubbell, jr., Captain 
Moses Averill, Captain Justus 
Sackett. 

1776 — Moses Averill, Captain Justus 
Sackett, Captain Jethro Hatch. 

1777 — Ephraim Hubbell, Captain Jus- 
tus Sackett, Captain Jethro 
Hatch. 

1778— Major Jethro Hatch, Captain Jo- 
seph Carter, Captain Jedediah 
Hubbell. 

1779— Majoir Jethro Hatch, Captain Jus- 
tus Sackett, Joseph Pratt, Ma- 
jor Eleazer Curtiss. 



Ephraim HuIj- 



Eliphalet Com- 



Com- 

Swift, 

Elisha 

Pratt, 
Moses 

Joseph 



1780— Major Jethro Hatch, Captain Jo- 
seph Carter, Lewis Mills, Ben- 
jamin Ackley. 

1781— Lewis Mills, Benjamin Ackley, 
Captain Joseph Pratt, Captain 
Justus Sackett. 

1782— Captain Justus Sackett, Captain 
Joseph Pratt, Major Eleazer 
Curtiss. 

1783— Captain Joseph Pratt, Captain 
Joseph Carter, Nathaniel Ber- 
ry, Nathan Elliott. 

1785-6— Captain Joseph Pratt, Major 
Eleazer Curtis. 

1787- Nathan Elliott. 

1788— Nathan Elliott, Captain Joseph 
Pratt. 

1789 — Nathaniel Perry. 

1790— Nathan Elliott. 

1791— Joseph Pratt. 

1792— Stephen Dodge, Nathaniel Berry. 

1793— Peter Pratt, Peter Comstock. 

1794— Joseph Pratt, John Elliott. 

1795— Joseph Pratt, John Elliott. 

1796— Joseph Pratt, John Elliott. 

1797— Borzillai Slosson, John Elliott. 

1798— Borzillai Slosson, Joseph Pratt. 

1799— David Comstock, Joseph Pratt. 

1800— David Comstock. 

1801 — David Comstock, Joseph Pratt. 

1802-3— David Comstock, Borzillai 
Slosson. 

1804 — Nathaniel Berry, jr., Borzillai 
Slosson. 

1806-7— Borzillai Slosson. 

1808— Matthew Elliott. 

1809— Borzillai Slosson. 

1810-11— Hopson Pratt, Borzillai Slos- 
son. 

1812 — Borzillai Slosson. 



114 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



1813-14— Hopson Pratt, Jesse St. John. 1852- 
1815— Matthew Elliott, Jesse St. John. 1853- 

1816— Nathan Elliott, Joseph Skiff. 1854 

1817— Philo Mills. 1855- 

1818— Abel Beach. 1856- 

1819-20— Lewis Mills. 1857- 

1821— Nathan Slosso-n, Jr. 1858- 

1822— Nathaniel P. Perry. 1859 

1823— Russell Judd. 1860- 

1824— John Mills. 1861- 

1825— John S. Swift. 1862- 

1826— Mills Bordwell. 1863- 

1827— Alpheus Fuller. 1864- 

1828— Abel Beach. 1865 

1829— Nathaniel P. Perry. 1866- 

1830— Birdsey Beardsley. 1867- 

1831— Philo Mills. 1868 

1832— Garrett Winegar. 1870 

1833— Ira Eaton. 1871 

1834— Wells Beardsley. 1872 

1835— Daniel Dayton. 1874- 

1836— Hiram Converse. 1875 

1837— Wm. T. Hopson. 1876 

1838— Russell Judd. 1877 

1839— Hubbell Miller. 1878 

1840— Daniel P. Lane. 1879 

1841— John M. Raymond. 1880 

1842— No reooird. 1881 

1843— John L. Stuart. 1882 

1844— No record. 1883 

1845— Agur Beardsley. 1885 

1846— Nathan Tirrills. 1886- 

1847— John L. Stuart. 1887 

1848— Rufus Fuller, Jr. 1889 

1849— Herman Segar. 1891 

1850— Elida Osborn. 1893 

1851— Henry L Fuller. 1895 



—Russell Stone. 
— G-eorge Fenn. 

—David Vincent. 
— Petheul Millspaush. 
—Luke I. Putnam. 
—Edmund H. Mills. 
—Charles J. FulleT. 
—Austin Morehouse. 
—John Spooner. 
— Wm. M. Judd. 
—Reuben Eaton. 
—Frederick A. Mallory. 
—Austin St. John. 
—Luther Eaton. 
—Peter Skiff. 
-Seth W. Hopson. 
-69— F. A. Mallory. 
— Charles Edwards. 
—Walter B. Camp. 
-3 — Charles Edwards. 
—Clark Page. 
—Charles Edwards. 
—Samuel R. Peet. 
—Marshall C. Gibbs. 
—Irwin J. Beardsley. 
—Ira Seymour. 
— Charles S. Smith. 
— Sherman Benedict. 

—Charles Lee. 

4 — Linus B. Winegar. 

-Charles S. Smith. 

—Jerome F. Gibbs. 

8 — Edwards J. Ingersoll. 

90 — Charles A. Eaton. 
— Charles L. Spooner. 

94 — Charles Lee. 

96 — John L. Ro^berts. 



Town Officers. 



1850. 

Cleirk— Rufus Fuller. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymoiid. 

Deputy— Asa Slade, 

Seleotmien — J. L. Stuart, Silas Butcher, 
Homer Edwards, Chiarles Beardsley. 

Collector and Constables — Cogswell, 
L. B. Winegar, J. S. Chiamberlain, 
Peter Skiff, Ezra Howland, — New- 
ton. 

1851. 

Clerk— Rufus Fuller. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 

Deputy — Asa Slade. 

Selectmien^ — J. L. Stuart, Homer Ed- 
wards, Silas Dutch er, Charles Beards- 
ley. 

Constables — Homer Edwards, L. B. 
Winegar, J. S. Chamberlain, Peter 
Skiff, J. W. Cypher, Isaac Dayton, L, 
H. Mills. 

Grand Jurors — Austin Morehouse, G. 
L. Page. 

Assessors — Asa Slade, G. L. Page, Har- 
vey Turrell. 

Board of Registrars^ — Ira Segar, Phil- 
ip Judd, Harmon Evitts. 

1852. 

Clerk— Rufus Fuller. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 

Deputy — Asa Slade. 

Town Agent — Seth W. Hoipson. 

Selectmen— J. L. Stuart, Homer Ed- 
wards, Silas Dutcher. 

Constables— Homier Edwards, L. B. 
Winegar, Wertley Word, J. S. Cham- 
berlaini, P. W. Mills, Ezra Howland, 
D. S. Evitts. 

Grand Jurorsr-Austin Morehouise, 
Moses Smith. 



Assessors — David Vincent, W. M. 

Judd, D. S. Evitts. 
Board of Registrars— P. W. Mills, Ira 

Segar, Charles Edwards. 

1853. 

Clerk— Rufus Fuller. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymoind. 

Deputy— R. M. Gibbs. 

Town Agent — Moses Smith. 

Selectmen — J. L. Stuart, A. Morehouse, 
Silas Dutcher. 

Constables— Hoimer Edwards, Linus B. 
Winegar, J. S. Chamberlain, Ezra 
Howland, Calvin Reed, D. S. Evitts, 
P. W. Mills. 

Grand Jurors — J. L. Stuart, A. More- 
house. 

Assessors — David Vincent, W. M. 
Judd, D. S. Evitts. 

Board of Registrars — Hiram Segar, J. 
H. Wanzer, Moses Smith. 

1854. 

Clerk— J. R. Fuller, Jr. 

Register — William Treat. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 

Deputy — Asa, Slade. 

Selectmen — Ira Segar, W. B. Newton, 

Harvey Turrell. 
Town Agent — C. I. Fuller. 
Constables — Homer Edwards, E. M. 

Howland, J. S. Chamberlain, P. W. 

Mills, Calvin Reed, Hiram Cogswell, 

John Chase. 
Collector — Harvey Turrell. 
Grand Jurors — J. L. Stuart, Agur 

Beardsley. 
Assessors — David Vincent, W. M. Judd, 

D. S. Evitts. 



ii6 



HISTORY OF KEN'J'. 



Board ol Relief — J. H. Wonzer, Moses 

Smith, Hiram Segar. 
Road Contractors — J. L. Stuart, Miles 

Camp, Ira Segar. 

1855. 

Clerk— Riifus Fuller. 

Register — William Treat. 

Treasui-«r — J. M. Raymond. 

Selectmen — (.$5 per year) — J. L. Stuart, 
Ira Segar, Silas Dutcher. 

Constables — J. S. Chamberlain, P. W. 
Mills, Calvin Reid, W. M. Judd, Mar- 
shall Straight, Henry Judd. 

Collector -C. I. Fuller. 

Grand Jurors — J. L. Stuart, Agur 
Beardsley. 

Assessoirs — David Vincent, Jarvis H. 
Wonzer, William Judd. 

Board of Relief — J. S. Chamberlain, 
Moises Smith, Hiram Segar. 

Land Surveyor —J. R. Fuller. 

1856. 

Clerk — Leman Beecher. 

Register — William Treat. 

Treasurer — John M. Raymond. 

Selectmen — John L. Stuart, Austin 
Morehouse, Wilson Patter. 

Collector — John S. Chamberlain. 

Constables^Cioero B. Beach, Frederick 
A. Mallory, Eben S. Tompkins, Cal- 
vin Reed, Henry Judd, Ambrose S. 
Hufint, John. Chase. 

Grand Jurors — John L. Stuart, Agur 
Beardsley. 

Assessors — David Vincent, Wm. M. 
Judd, Edmund H. Mills. 

Board of Relief— John S. Chamberlain, 
Moses Smith, John Wilson. 

School Visitors — N. S. Atwater, Rufus 
Fuller, Ashbel Fuller. 

Judge Probate Court — William Treat. 

Deputy Sheriff— Jared M. Ingersoll. 

Attorneys-at-Law — Rufus Fuller, Wil- 
liam Treat. 

Justices of the Peace — Aaron W. Ben- 
son, Reuben Eaton, Rufust Fuller, 
Reuben M. Gibbs, William B. New- 
ton, Oliver W. Root, Hiram Segar, 
William Treat, Harvery Tunsell, 
John Wilson. 



CommissioneTs on Bridge Bulls Falls- 
John W. Ward, John Chase. 

Grand List— $496,536. 

Physicians — Wells Beardsley, John E. 
Smith, Ralph H. Pratt. 

Postmaster — Rufus Fuller. 

1857. 

Clerk — Leman Beecher. 
Register — A. P. Teal. 
Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 
Selectmen — A. Morehouse, Ira Segar, 

Wilson Potter. 
Collector — Ezra Howland. 
Constables — J. S. Chamberlain, E. 

Tompkins, E. H. Mills. 
Grand Jurors — John Hopson, D. S. 

Evitts. 
Assessoirs — J. S. Chamberlain, F. L. 

Bull, David Noble. 
Board of Relief — John Chase, Moses 

Smith, John Wilson. 
Land surveyor — J. R. Fuller. 
Board of Education — H. S. Atvi^ater, E. 

Whittlesey, A. Fuller, L. Spooner, 

C. I. Fuller, W. M. Judd. 

1858. 

Clerk — Leman Beecher. 

Register — A. P. Teal. 

Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 

Selectmen — Austin Morehoxxse, John 

C. Berry, L. W. Stone. 
Constables — J. S. Chamberlain, E. W. 

Tompkins, E. H. Mills. 
Grand Jurors — W. T. Hopson, John C. 

Berry. 
Assessors — John M. Pratt, Charles 

Beardsley, F. L. Bull. 
Board of Relief — Moises Smith, John 

Chase, John Wilso,n. 
Land Surveyor — J. R. Fuller. 
Board of Educatioin — Lewis Spooner, 

David Vincent. 

1859. 

Clerk — Austin St. John. 
Register — Adam P. Teal. 
Treasurer — J. M. Raymoind. 
Selectmen — C. 1. Fuller, John Wilson, 
Moses Smith. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



117 



Constables — John Chamberlain, Ezra 

Howland. 
Collector — G. H. Chamberlain. 
Grand Juroi^s — Newton Carter, John T. 

St. John. 
Assessors — Austin Morehouse, John 

Wilson, Newton Carter. 
Board of Relief — John C. Berry, Joel 

B. Pratt, Reuben Eaton. 
Land Surveyor — J. R. Fuller. 

Board of Education — Ashbel Fuller, 

John C. Berry, W. Camp. 
1860. 
Clerk — Austin St. John. 
Register — John G. Reid. 
Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 
Selectmen — C. I. Fuller, John Wilson. 

Moses Smith. 
Constables — J. S. Chamberlain, J. H. 

Peters, W. H. Smith, William Ives, 

Wilson Potter. 
Collector— E. M. Rowland. 
Grand Jurors — F. A. Mallory, Asa 

Slade, Ambrose Hufcut, Miles Camp. 
Assessors — John Wilson, F. L. Bull, D. 

S. Evitts. 
Board of Relief— W. B. Newton. J. M, 

Pratt, F. A. Malloi'y. 
Land Surveyor — J. R. Fuller. 
Board of Education' — Ashbel Fuller, H. 

S. Atwater, Evarts Scudder. 
1861. 
Clerk and Register — Austin St. John. 
Treasurer — J. M. Raymond. 
Selectmen — John C. Berry, Richard 

Lee, D. S. Evitts. 
Constables— E. M. Rowland, F. S. Mer- 

win, Ambrose Hufcut. 
Grand Jurors — Ira Segar, John Spoon- 

er. 
Assessors — Reuben Eaton, Ralph Pratt, 

David Noble. 
Board of Relief— Marshall Straight, 

John Seigar, Garner Benson. 
Road Commissioners — Ira Segar, L. W. 

Stone. 
Board oif Education — Ashbel Fuller, J. 

C. Berry. William Camp, R. S. At- 
water, Evarts Scudder, Lewis Spoon- 
er. David A^incent. 



1862. 

Clerk — Austin St. John. 

Register— C. B. Andrews. 

Treasurer — Ashbel Fuller. 

Selectmen — John C. Berry, Richarl 
Lee, D. S. Evitts. 

Constables — F. M. Berry, E. M. Row- 
land, Frederick Gilbert. 

Grand Jurors — John Spooner, Ira Se- 
gar. 

Assessors — Reuben Eaton, Ralph Pratt, 
David Noble. 

Board of Relief — Garner Benson, Mar- 
shall Straight, John Segar. 

Road commissioners — Ira. Segar, L. W. 
Stone. 

Board of Education — R. S. Atwater, 
E. Scudder, Lewis Spoioner, David 
Vincent, Ashbel Fuller, C. B. An- 
drews. 

1863. 

Clerk and Register — Charles B. An- 
drews. 
Treasurer — Ashbel Fuller. 
Selectmen — John C. Berry. Richard 

Lee, D. S. Evetts. 
Town Agent — C. B. Andrews. 
Constables— E. M. Rowland, W. R. 

Peet, John Chase. 
Collector — Luther Eaton. 
Grand Jurors^ — Ira Segar, Newton 

Carter. 
Assessors — Peter Skiff, Lewis Spooi>er, 

David Noble. 
Board of Relief— O. W. Root, Luther 

Eaton, Isaac Dayton. 
Board of Education — Lewis Spooner, 

William Camp, Ashbel Fuller. 

1864. 

Clerk and Reigistrar— R. O. Nash. 

T re a su r er — D a v i d V i n ce nt . 

Selectmen^Luther Eaton, David Cole, 
Clark Page. 

Town Agent — Perry Rufcut. 

Constables — J. S. Chamberlain, Sher- 
man Green, F. S. Merwin, J. R. 
Peters, George Segar, Zeloiis Shove, 
A. R. Benedict. 

Grand Jurors — Moses Smith, John 
Chase. 



ii8 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Assessors — Charles Beardsley, H. W. 

Briggs, Peter Skiff. 
Board of Relief— W. B. Newton, S. R. 

Peet, J. H. Peters. 
Road Commissioiiers — Wilsoii Potter, 

Ira Segar, Merwin Howland, Richard 

Lee, John Chase. 
Board of Education^ — Evarts Scudder, 

Ashbel Fuller, H. O. Nash. 

1865. 

Clerk — Austin St. John. 

Register — H. O. Nash. 

Treasurer — Luther Eaton. 

Selectmen — Perry Hufcut, David Coles, 
Clark Page. 

Constables— J. H. Peters, H. B. Bug- 
gies, George Segar, Walter Camp, 
H. Lacy, Sherman Green, A. Bene- 
dict, Z. Shove, L. Northrop, C. 
Lane. 

Collector — Luther Eaton. 

Grand Jurors — John Chase, Ira Segar. 

Assessors — Husted Briggs, Charles 
Beardisley, Peter Skiff. 

Board of Relief— J. H. Peters, S. R. 
Peet, William Newton. 

Board of Education^ — Ashbel Fuller, 
Lewis Spooner, Evarts Scudder. 

1866. 

Clerk — Henry B. Ruggles. 

Register — David Vincent. 

Treasurer — Luther Eaton. 

Selectmen— Luther Eaton, Peter Skiff, 
John Chase. 

Town Agent — Perry Hufcut. 

Conistables — J. H. Peters, George Seigar. 
H. B. Ruggles, Andrew Benedict 
Zelous Shove, William Peet, J. H 
Traver, Charles Leonard, Garner 
Binson. 

Grand Jurors — Ira Segar, Moses Smith. 

Assessors — Peter Skiff, John Chambeir- 
lain, S. R. Peet. 

Board of Relief— A, W. Benison, Sher- 
man Green, Moses Smith. 

Road Commissioners — Richard Lee. 
John Chase, Merwin Howland. 

Board of Education — Evarts Scudder. 
Ashbel Fuller, John Chase. 



1867. 

Clerk amd Register — J. F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — lAither Eaton. 

Selectmen — F. A. Mai lory, Clark Page, 
A. W. Benson. 

Constables — G. L. Segar, Zelous Shove, 
J. H. Traver. 

Grand Jurors — Ira Segar, Moses Smith, 
Albert Roberts. 

Assessors — J. S. Chamberlain, Ira Se- 
gar, Aaron Benson. 

Board of Relief— Perry Hufcut, Sher- 
man Benedict, Richard Lee. 

Road Commissioners — David Cole, 
Perry Hufcut, N. B. Chamberlain. 

Board of Education — Ashbel Fuller, 
Perry Hufcut. 

S. Treasurer — Luther Eaton. 

1868. 

Clerk and Register— J. F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Luther Eaton. 

Selectmen — F. A. Mallory, Clark Page. 
Perry Hufcut. 

Constables — Zelous Shove, G. L. Segar, 
W. B. Camp. 

Collector — Clark Page. 

Grand Jurors — Luther Eaton, Clark 
Page. 

Assessors — J. S. Chamberlain, Peter 
Skiff, John Chase. 

Board of Relief— Perry Hufcut, Sher- 
man Benedict, Richard Lee. 

Board of Educatioin — John Chase, Per- 
ry Hufcut. X. A. Welton. 

1869. 

Clerk and Register — J. F. Gibbs. 

T re a su r e r — Luth er Eat on -. 

Selectmen — F. H. Mallory, Clark Page, 
Charles Beardsley. 

Constables^ — J. W. Traver, George Se- 
gar, Zelous Shove, William Goo'dsiell, 
Stephen Snidker, Sherman Green, 
Walter B. Camp. 

Collector — Clark Page. 

Grand Jurors — Ivuther Eaton. Clark 
Page. 

Assessors — John Chamberlain, Peter 

Skiff. John Chase, 
^oard of Relief — George Segar, Rich- 
ard Lee. Sherman Benedict. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



119 



Road Commossioners — N. B. Chamber- 
lain, Perry Hufcut. 

Land Surveyor — D. Y\^. Fuller. 

Board of Education^ — Perry Hufcut, X. 
A. Welton, .Tohn Chase. 

Registrar of Voters — Seth W. Hopson, 
G. L. Segar. 

1870. 
Clerk and Register — J. P. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — T.uther Eaton. 
Selectmen — F. A. Mallory, Clark Page, 

Charles Beardsley. 
Constables — C. W. Roraback, Zelous 

Shove, G. L. Segar. 
G. Juroirs — I^uther Eaton, Clark Page. 
Assessors — J. S; Chamberlain, Peter 

Skiff, John Chase. 
Board of Relief — L. Segar, Richard 

Lee, Sherman Benedict. 
Road Commissioners — Wilson Potter, 

Levi Stone, Ira Segar. 
Board of Education — John Chase, E. P. 

Payson, Perry Hufcut. 

Registrar of Voters — G. L. Segar. 

1871. 

Clerk and Register — J. F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — David Vincent. 

Selectmen — F. A. Mallory, Clark Page, 
Charles Beardsley. 

Constables— C. W. Roiraback, E. C. 
Page, William Gooidsell. 

Coillector — Luther Eaton. 

G'rand Jurors — Clark Page, Moses 
Smith. 

Assessors — John Chamberlain, Peter 
Skiff, John Chase. 

Board of Relief— G. L. Segar, Gilbert 
Vincent, Richard Lee. 

Board of Educatiom' — Joihn Chase, Per- 
ry Hufcut, Gilbert Vincent. 

1872. 

Clerk and Register — Jero^me F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — David Vincent. 

Selectmen — Austin Morehouse, John 
Segar, Charles Beardsley. 

Constables — C. W. Roraback, Edgar 
Page, Zelous Shove, W. H. Thomp- 
son. 

Collectoir — Luther Eaton. 



Grand Jurors — Merwin Howland, Ira 
Segar. 

Assessors — John Chase, Walter B. 
Camp, Sherman Green. 

Board of Relief— G. L. Segar, G. A. 
Vincent; Peter Skiff. 

Board of Education — Perry Hufcut, 
Gilbert Vincent, John Chase. 

Registrar- of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 

1873. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Tl'easurer — Austin St. John. 
Selectmen — Charles Edwards, Clark 

Page, Charles Beardsley. 
Constables— C. W. Roraback, E. C. 

Page, J. W. Slosson. 
Grand Jurors — George Roraback, Mer- 
win Howland. 
Assessors — John Chase, Walter Camp, 

S. S. Gi-een. 
Board of Relief — G. L. Segar, Peter 

Skiff, G. A. Vincent. 
Road Commissioners — Frank Evitts, 

Seth Hopson, N. B. Chamberlain. 
Board of Education — Perry Hufcut, W. 

O. Page, A. Crosby, W. B. Camp, 

John Chase. 
Registrar of Voters — G. L. Segar, Jesse 

St. John. 

1874. 

Clerk and Register — Jeirome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer^ — David Vincent. 

Selectmen — Charles Edwards, Clark 
Page, Charles Beardsley. 

Constables^E. C. Page, C. W. Rora- 
back, John W. Slosson. 
Collector — Moses Smith. 

Grand Jurors — Merwin Howland, 
George Roraback. 

Assessors — John Chase, Sherman 
Green, Walter Camp. 

Board of Relief— G. L. Segar, Gilbert 
Vincent, F. R. Buckingham. 

Road Commissioners — Seth W. Hop- 
soui, F. A. Mallory. 

Board of Education^ — J. W. Slosson, 
Gilbert Vincent, John Chase. 

Registrar of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 



I20 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



1875. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — David Vincent. 

Selectmen — Charles Edwards, Cla>rk 
Page, Wilson Potter. 

Constables— F. B. Gibbs, A. S. Hill, 
Walter Page, F. L. Bull. 

Collector— C. S. Smith. 

Grand .Jurors — F. A. Mallory, John 
Segar. 

Assessoirs — John Chase, Sherman 
Green, J. S. Chamberlin. 

Board of Relief— G. A. Vincent, G. L. 
Segar, F. R. Buckingham. 

Board of Eiducation — G. A. Vincent, 
Walter Page, Emerson Jessup, John 
Chase. 

Registra.r of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 

1876. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasureir — Moses Smith. 

Selectmen^ — Charles Edwards, Clark 
Page, Wilson Potter. 

Constable— F. B. Gibbs. 

Collector— Charles S. Smith. 

Grand Jurors — F. A. Mallory, Marvin 
Hall. 

Assessors — John Chase, John Cham- 
berlain, Wellington Watson. 

Board of Relief— G. A. Vincent, G. 1^. 
Segar, F. R. Buckingham. 

Board of Education — Gilbeirt Vincent, 
Emerson Jessup, John Chase. 

Registrar of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 

1877. 
Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — C. H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Stephen 

Smith, Sherman S. Green. 
ConstablesThompson Barton, C. L. 

Spoonier, Fred'k Chase. 
CoUectoT — Irwin J. Beardsley. 
Grand Jurors — Marvin Hall, John 

Segar. 
Assessors — John, Chase, L. S. Noi'th- 

rop, Peter Skiff. 
Board of Relief— Richard I^ee, L. W. 

Stone, Prank Evitts. 



Board of Education — Thomas Barclay, 
I. J. Beardsley. 

Regi'strair of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 

1878. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Spencer 
Smith, Clark Page. 

Constables — Thompson Barton, Mark 
B. Howland, Edwin B. Payn. 

CollectoT — Irwin J. Beardsley. 

Grand Jurors — John Segar. 

Assiessors — Lewis S. Northrop, Sher- 
man Green, John Chase. 

Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Frank 
Evitts, Fitch R. Buckingham. 

Board of Education— T. D. Barclay, G. 
A. Vincent, John Chase. 

Registrar of Voters — G. L. Segar, Al- 
bert Roberts. 

1879. 

Clerk- -Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Register — John W. King. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Levi W. Stone, Stephen 
Smith, Pitch R. Buckingham. 

Constables — Charles S. Smith, James 
H. Peters. 

Collector — Charles A. Easton. 

Grand Jurors — Sherman o. Green, John 
Segar. 

Assessors — Lewis b. Northrop, Sher- 
man S. Green, Wilson Potter. 

Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Frank 
Evitts, Gilbert A. Vincent. 

Board of Education' — Thomas D. Bar- 
clay, Isaac C. Sturgess. 

Registrar of voters — George L. Segar, 
Albert Roberts. 

Postmaster — Burrett Eaton. 

Member Connecticut Medical Society — 
John W. King. ^ 

Clergymen Methodist Episcopal — A. A. 
Lathbury. 

Episcopal — Isaac C. Sturgess. 

Congregational — Thomas D. Barclay. 

Grand List— $501,182. 

Justices of the Peace — Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Daniel C. Camp. 



HISTORY OP^ KENT, 



Commissioner Superior Court — Well- 
ington Watson. 
Notary Public— Marshall C. Gibbs. 

1880. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Register — John; W. King. 
Treasurer — C. H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen— L. W. Stone, Stephen 

Smith, John Seger. 
Constables — Thompson Barton, Charles 

Lee, I. J. Beardsley. 
Collector — C. A. Eaton. 
Grand Juror — John Seger. 
Assessors — L. S. Northrop, S. S. Green, 

S. R. Peet. 
Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Prank 

Evetts, G. A. Vincent. 
Board of Education— T. D. Barclay, I. 

C. Sturges, John Chase. 
Registrars of Voters — G. L. Seger, 

Albert RobeTts. 

1881. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Register — John W. King. 

Treasurer— Chiarles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Levi W. Stone, Sherman 
Benedict, John Seger. 

Constables — Thompson Barton, Charles 
Lee. 

Collector — Charles A. Eaton. 

Grand Jurors — Luther Eaton, Sherman 
Green. 

Assessors — Fred A. Mallory, Sherman 
Green. 

Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Frank 
Evetts, Gilbert A. Vincent. 

Board of Education — Thomas D. Bar- 
clay, Isaac C. Sturgis, John Chase, 
G. A. Vincent. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roberts. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Notarj' Public — Marshall C. Gibbs. 

Deputy Sheriff— E. Samuel Elmore. 

Justices of the Peace — Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Luther Eaton. 

Commissioner Superior Court — Well- 
ington Watson. 

Grand List— $469,391. 



Children enrolled 370, militia 173. 

Presidential vote for Garfield 180; for 
Hancock 195; for governor, Bige- 
low 180, English 196. 

Physician — John W. King. 

Postmaster — Burrett Eaton. 

Population, 1880, 1,922. 

Distance from Hartford— Eighty miles. 
1882. 

Clerk— Jerome P. Gibbs. 

Register — .John W. King. 

Treasurer— Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Clark Page, 
John Straight. 

Constables — Frederick A. Mallory. 

Collector — Charles A. Eaton. 

Grand Juror — George L. Seger. 

Assessors — F. A. Mallory, S. S. Green, 
Charles L. Spooner. 

Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Frank 
Evetts, Gilbert A. Vincent. 

Board of Education — Thomas D. Bar- 
clay, Isaac C. SturgeSi, John Chase, 
G. A. Vincent. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roberts. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace — Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Luther Eaton. 

Grand List— $472,825. 
1883. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Register — John W. King. 

Treasiirer- C. H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Samuel R. 
Peet, John Straight. 

Constables— F. A. Mallory, F. S. Bull, 
Charles Lee, Frederick Chase, El- 
more Burton, E. D. Beeman. 

Collector — Charles A. Eaton. 

Grand Jurors — John Seger, Sherman 
S. Green. 

Assessors — John A. Morehouse, Clark 
Page, Charles L. Spooner. 

Board of Relief— Gilbert A. Vincent, 
Richard Lee, Frank Evetts. 

Board of Education — John Chase, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, 1885. 

Registrar of Voters, Gilbert A. Vincent, 
Albert Roberts. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace — Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Luther Eaton, Perry Hufcut, 
Peter Skiff, S. S. Green, W. O. Page, 
Olark Page, Walter Conn, L. B. 
Winegar, Wellington Watson. 

Grand List— $486,236. 

Vote for Governor — Bulkeley 94, Wall- 
er 184. 

1884. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Reigister — John W. King. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, George L. 
Seger, John Straight. 

Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, 
Fred L. Buell, Fred Chase, Charles 
Lee, Frank Smith, Elmiore Burton, 
Edwin D. Beeman. 

Assessors — John A. Morehouse, Clark 
Page, Sherman S. Green. 

Board of Relief— Gilbert A. Vincent, 
Richard Lee, Frank Evetts. 

Board of Education— John Chase, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, 1885; Gilbert A. 
Vincent, Thomas D. Burdy, 1886. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roberts. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace — Luther Eaton, 
Marshall C. Gibbs, Wellington Wat- 
son. 

Grand List— $494,389. 

1885. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Register — John W. King. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Sherman 
Btnedict, John Straight. 

Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, Fred 
L BuU. Charles Lee, James Tobin, 
Fred H. Chase, Elmer Barton. 

Grand Jurors — George L. Seger, Linus 
B. Winegar. 

Assessors — Walter O. Page, Sherman 
S. Green, Lewis S. Northrop. 

Board of Relief— Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Richard Lee, Frank Evetts. 



Board of Education^ — John Chase, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, 1885; Gilbert A. 
Vincent, Thomas D. Burdy, 1886; El- 
bert S. Porter, Walter O. Page, Isaac 
C. Sturges, 1887. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Jesse St. John. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Deputy Sheriff— Gilbert A. Vincent. 

Justices of the Peace^ — Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Luther Eaton, Perry Hufcut, 
Peter Skiff, Sherman S. Greene, 
Walter O. Page, Clark Page, Linus 
B. Winegar, Wellington Watson, 
Walter Conn. 

Grand List— $495,079. 

1886. 

Clerk — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Register — John W. King. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Sherman 

Benedict, John Straight. 
Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, Fred 

L. Bull, Charles Lee, James Tobin, 

Charles F. Kirk, Wm. H. Stuart, Wm. 

Burnett. 
Collector — Fred H. Chase. 
Grand Jurors — George L. Seger, Linns 

B. Winegar. 
Assessors — Walter O. Page, Sherman 

S. Green, Birdsey G. Pratt. 
Board of Relief— Gilbert A. Vincent, 

Richard Lee, John Straight. 
Board of Education^ — Gilbert A. Vincent, 

Thomas D. Burdy, 1886; Elbert S. 

Porter, Walter O. Page, Isaac C. 

Sturges, 1887; John Chase, John 

Slosson, F. R. Buckingham, 1888. 
Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roberts. 
Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Justices of the Peaces — Marshall C. 

Gibbs, Luther Eaton, Walter 0. 

Page. 
Grand List— $490,260. 
Vote for President — Cleveland 198; 

Blaine 144. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



1^3 



1887. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, John 

Straight, Sherman Benedict. 

Constables — Thompson Burton, Bird- 
sey G. Pratt, W. B. Burnett, Walter 
Hatch, Daniel Hall, Charles Kirk, 
James Tobin. 

Collector — Fred H. Chase. 

Grand Jurors — Birdsey G. Pratt, Linus 
B. Winegar. 

Assessors — Charles L. Spooner, James 
H. Peters, Walter 0. Page. 

Board of Education — Elbert S. Porter, 
Walter O. Page, Isaac C. Sturges, 
1887; John Chase, John Slosson, F. 
R. Buckingham, 1888; Irwin J. 
Beardsley, Gilbeirt A. Vincent, 1889. 

Board of Relief — Joihn Straight, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, Richard Lee. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roberts. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace^ — Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Lutheir Eaton, Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Sherman S. Green, Perry Huf- 
cut, John L. Roberts, Jesse St. John, 
Peter Skiff, William K. Stone, John 
Straight. 

Grand List— $482,825. 

Children enumerated — 349. 

1888. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Luther Eaton, Sherman 
Benedict, John Straight. 

Constables^Fredeirick A. MalloTy, 
Hiram I. Wildman, Fred L. Buel, 
Charles Lee, Charles Kirk, James 
Tobin, Wm. H. Stuart. 

Collector — Fred H. Chase. 

Grand Juroirs^ — George L. Seiger, 
George Roraback. 

Assessors — Edward J. Ingersoll, Sher- 
man S. Green, Charles L. Spooner. 

Board of Relief— Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Richard Lee, John Straight. 

Registrars of Voters— Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roraback. 



School Visitors— John Slosson, C. L. 

Spooner, 1888; Irwin J. Beardsley, 

Gilbert A. Vincent, 1889; George W. 

Griffith. Reuben M. Gibbs, 1890. 
Judge of Probate— Jerom© F. Gibbs. 
Justices of the Peace — Irwin J. 

Beardsley, Luther Eiaton, Marshall 

C. Gibbs, Perry Hufcut. 
Grand List— $482,351. 
Children enumerated — 351. 

1889. 

Clerk and Register— Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — Jesse St. John (North 
Kent), Charles A. Eaton, John 
Chase. 

Grand Jurors — George Roraback, Bird- 
sey G. Pratt. 

Coillector — Fred H. Chase. 

Constables — Thompson Burton, Frank 
S. Peet, Seth Monroe, Jerome Judd, 
Wm. Searles, Wm. B. Burnett, Wm. 
K. Stone. 

Assiessors^ — Lewis S. Northrop, James 
H. Peters, Cook Darling. 

Board of Relief — John Straight, 
Irwin J. Beardsley, Richard Lee. 

School Visitors — Irwin J. Beardsley, 
Gilbert A. Vincent, 1889; John Wy- 
man, Reuben M. Gibbs, 1890; Charles 
L. Spooner, John Chase, 1891. 

Registrars of Voters — Gilbert A. Vin- 
cent, Albert Roherts. 

Probate Judge — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace — Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Sherman Benedict, Thomas 
Brandh, James Barker, Walter Conn, 
Marshall C. Gibbs, Perry Hufcut, 
John Slosson, Charles L. Spooner, 
Charles R. Stone. 

Grand List— $478,733. 

Tax Rate— 16 mills. 

1890. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen' — Samuel R. Peet (So^uth 

Kent), Elroy S. Jennings, Charles A. 

Eaton. 
Town Agent — Perry Hufcut. 



124 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Constables — Charles T. Chase, Olis 
Benedict, Daniel Tobin, Mott Dar- 
ling, Thomas Barton, William 
Searles, Prank A. Peet. 

Grand Jurors — George Roiraback, Bird- 
sey G. Pratt. 

Assessors^ — Edward J. Ingersoll, Perry 
Hufcut, Lewis S. Northrop. 

Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Clark 
Page, John Straight. 

School Visitors — Reuben M. Glbbs, 
John Wyman, 1890; John Chase, 
Charles L. Spooner, 1891; Irwin J. 
BeardBley, William F. Bielby, 1892. 

Registrars of Voters — Mott Darling, 
Albert Roberts. 

Judge of Probate — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Justices of the Peace — Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Sherman Benedict, Marshall C. 
Gibbs, Perry Hufcut, Charles L. 
Spooner. 

Notary Public — Jerome P. Gibbs. 

Commissioners Superior Court — Perry 
Hufcut, Wellington Watson. 

Deputy Sheriff — Gilbert A. Vincent. 

Grand List— $479,331. 

Rate of Taxes— 16 mills. 

Indebtedness Funded— $13,800. 

Children enumerated — 313. 

Physician — John W. King. 

1891. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectinen — Samuel R. Peet (South 

Kent), Elroy S. Jennings, Charles A. 

Eaton. 
Constables — Charles Chase, Otis A. 

Benedict, Daniel Tobin, William R. 

Searles, Frank S. Peet, Mott Darling, 

William K. Stone. 
Collector — Fred H. Chase. 
Grand Jurors — George Roraback, Bird- 

sey G. Pratt. 
Assessors — Edward J. Ingersoll, Perry 

Hufcut, Lewis S. Northrop. 
Board of Relief — Richard Lee, Clark 

Page, John Straight. 
Registrar of Voters — Mott Darling, Al- 
bert Roberts. 



School Visitors — John Chase, Charles 
L. Spooner, 1891; William F. Bielby, 
Irwin J. Beardsley, 1892; Reuben M. 
Gibbs, Benjamin M. Wright, 1893. 

Justices of the Peace — Thomas D. Bar- 
clay, Irwin J. Beardsley, Luther Eat- 
on, Perry Hufcut, William Morey, 
Walter O. Page, Peter Skiff, John 
SI OS son. 

Notary Public — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

1892. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen — Samuel R. Peet, Elroy S. 

Jennings, Charles A. Heaton. 
Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, 

Charles Chase, Daniel Tobin, Charles 

A. Buckingham, Wm. K. Stone. Wm. 

Searles, Frank Peet. 
Grand Jurors — John Straight, George 

Roraback. 
Assessors — E. J. Ingersoll, Perry Huf- 
cut, Lewis S. Northrop. 
Board of Relief— John Chase, Charles 

Lee, Jerome Berry. 
Registrar of Voters — Mott Darling, 

Albert Roberts. 
School Visitors^Wm. F. Bielby, Irwin 

J. Beardsley, John Slasson, W. O. 

Page, John Chase, B. G. Pratt. 

1893. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen — Samuel R. Peet (South 

Kent), Elroy S. Jennings, Charles 

A. Eaton. 
Town Agent — Perry Hufcut. 
Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, 

Daniel Tobin, Charles T. Chase, 

Charles A. Buckingham, Frank Peet, 

William L. Searles, William K. 

Stone. 
Collector— Fred H. Chase. 
Grand Juror — George Roi-aback. 
Assessors — Edward J. Ingersoll, Perry 

Hufcut, Lewis S. Northroip. 
Board of Relief — John Chase, Charles 

Lee, Jerome Berry. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



125 



Registrars of Voters — Mott Darling, 
Albert Roberts. 

School Visitors — Walter O. Page, John 
Sloisson, 1893; John Chase, B. G. 
Pratt, 1894; William F. Bielby, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, 1895. 

Justices of the Peace — Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Thomas D. Barclay, Luther Bat- 
on, Perry Hufcut, William Morey, 
Walter O. Page, Peter Skiff, Jobn 
Slosison, William K. Stone, John 
Straight. 

Notary Public — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

1894. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

SeleotmeiU' — Ciharies A. Eaton, Samuel 
R. Peet, Elroy S. Jennings. 

Constables — Frederick A. Mallory, 
Thompson Burton, Charles T. Chase, 
Eugene W. Bull, William K. Searles, 
Daniel Tobin, William K. Stone. 

Collector— Fred H. Chase. 

Grand Jurors — George Roraback, Bird- 
sey G. Pratt. 

Assessors — Edward J. Ingersoil, Perry 
Hufcut, Lewis S. Northrop. 

Board of Relief— John Chase, Wil- 
liam K. Stone, Charles L. Spooner. 

Registrars of Voters — Mott Darling, 
Charles L. Spooner. 

School Visitors — John Chase, B. G. 
Pratt, 1894; William F. Bielby, Ir- 
win J. Beardsley, 1895; John Slos- 
S'on, Charles L. Spooner, 1896. 

Justices of the Peace — Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Thomas D. Barclay, Luther 
Baton, Perry Hufcut. 

Notary Public — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

1895. 

Clerk and Register— Jerome F. Gibbs. 
Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 
Selectmen — Charles A. Baton, Elroy S. 

Jennings, Samuel R. Peet. 
Auditors — Perry Hufcut, Birdsey G. 

Pratt. 



Constables — Frank Peet, Robert J. 
Boyd, Thompson Burton, Robert 3. 
Waldron, Eugene W. Bull, Daniel 
Tobin, Charles T. Chase. 

Collector— Charles H. Gaylord. 

Grand Jurors- George L. Seger, Wil- 
liam K. Stone. 

Assessors — William E. Page, Perry 
Hufcut, Lewis S. Northrop. 

Board of Relief — John Chase, Jerome 
Berry, William K. Stone. 

Registrars of Voters — Charles L. 
Spooner, Mott Darling. 

School Visitors — Irwin J. Beardsley, 
Wm. F. Bielby, 1895; John Slosson, 
Charles L. Spooner, 1896; John 
Chase, Birdsey G. Pratt, 1897. 

Justices of the Peace — Jerome Berry, 
Thomas D. Barclay, Thompson 
Burton, Fred H. Chase, Perry Huf- 
cut, John Monroe, Samuel R. Peet, 
George L. Seger, Charles S. Smith. 
William K. Stone. 

Notary Public — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

1896. 

Clerk and Register — Jerome F. Gibbs. 

Treasurer — Charles H. Gaylord. 

Selectmen — George L. Seger, John A. 
Morehouse, Elroy S. Jennings. 

Constables — Eugene W. Bull, Thomas 
Collier, Charles L. Chase, Daniel To- 
bin, Frank S. Peet, Lewis H. Ives, 
Robert J. Boyd. 

Collector — Fred H. Chase. 

Grand Jurors — Charles S. Smith, Wil- 
liam K. Stone'. 

Assessors — William E. Page, Don C. 
Peet, Lewis S. Northrop. 

Board of Relief — John Chase, Charles 
Lee, Charles L. Spooner. 

Registrars of Voters — Mott Darling, 
Charles L. Spooner. 

School Visitors — John Slossoo, Charles 
L. Spooner, 1896; John Chase, Bird- 
sey G. Pratt, 1897; Irwin J. Beards- 
ley, Jerome Judd, 1898. 

Notary Public — Jerome F. Gibbs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



SKETCHKS. 




CHARLES T. WALPORT. 



Charles T. Walport, of Washington, D. C, is a representative of the Stuart family, being a 

grandson on the maternal side of Hon. Charles Stuart, mention of whom is 

made on page 132. His father was Stephen Tobias of Waldpot, 

of whom a sketch appears on page 86. 



Biographical Sketches. 



CHARLES JAMBS STEPHEN STUART. 



Among the early founders ol Kent, 
Litchfield county, Conn., we find the 
name of Charles James Stephen Stuart, 
who was undoubtedly one of the ablest 
men of his time. This gentleman is 
said to have been the son of Lord 
Charles Stuart (Murray), the fourth 
son of the first duke of Athol, whoi ap- 
pears to have been erroneously pub- 
lished in the English peerage as having 
died in 1720. He was implicated in the 
Scottish revolutioin in 1715, was cap- 
tured at Preston, court martialed and 
sentenced to be shot. Sir Walter Scott 
says: "He was with difllculty re- 
prieved owing to the influence of his 
frien/ds." (Tales of a Grandfather Vol. 
in, p. 138.) LoTd Charles Stuart Mur- 
ray escaped to France with Charles 
and Isaac Walker, who had both "been 
out," and in 1720 to the American col- 
onies. The gentlemen Walker settled 
in Maryland, Mr. Stuart in the New 
Netherlands (New York City), where 
he is said to have married a daughter 
of Col. Cosby, the governor,. 

The present Duke of Athol admits 
in an autograph letter to Mrs. Walport 
that he does not know where Charles 
Stuart Murray is buried. 

Charles James Stephen Stuart was 
boirn in the great metropolis about 1734 
as near as may be determined and after 
the death of his parents, went to Con- 
necticut. At the time of the burning 
of Danbury (1777) he had been residing 
for some years with a Mr. Dibble, a 
prominent loyalist of that town, who 
owned the old mansion which enter- 
tained General Tyron and his officers 
on their expedition into Danbury, and 



which also received the dying form of 
the gallant General Wooster. Owing 
to his treasonable sympathies, Mr. Dib- 
ble was taken the next day by the 
young men of the town, and given a 
ducking. After the burning of Dan- 
bury, Mr. Stuart, who naturally clung 
to the faith and traditions of his an- 
cestors, buried himself in the forests 
of New Fairfield, where he engaged 
for some years in teaching, and is 
said to have made many friends. He 
was one of the chief instigators of the 
memorial sent toi Prince Charles in 
1778, asking him to come over and 
set up his standard in the back settle- 
ments. Sir Walter Scott told Wash- 
ington Irving, "that he had seen this 
oorrespondence at Carlton House, but 
that it had afterward disappeared." 
(Mahon Hist, of England, Vol. VI, p. 
180. See Visit to Abbotsfo.rd by Irving, 
p. 48). About this time the law was 
passed known as "George III.," Chap. 
24, which restored the descendants of 
rebellious houses toi their hereditary 
rights. Soon after, Mr. Stewart ob- 
tained an interview with Lord and Sir 
William Howe, both of whom assured 
him in the name of George III., "that 
if he would assist in subjugating the 
disorderly and rebellious colonies, his 
rights should be duly recognized by the 
English government." (Sabine's His- 
tory of the Loyalists of the Revolu- 
tion, says: "James Stuart of New York 
was an addressor of Lord and Sir Wil- 
liam Howe.") Vol. II. The promise 
was never kept and it is evident that 
George III. used the power he had thus 



ISO 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



obtained solely to strengthen the hith- 
erto wavering House of Athol. Later, 
Mr. Stuart became possessed of con- 
siderable landed property which ap- 
pears to have been confiscated by the 
colonial government, "he having aided 
and abetted the tories." 

We read that about the time Mr. 
Stuart was so closely pursued by the 
enemy, that like his ancestors of old, 
he was forced to hide himself in a 
mountain cave near his home in Kent, 
while the country round about was 
being scoured in pursuit of him and 
that his wife, the intrepid Elizabeth 
Bull (the great-great-granddaughter 
of the great colonist — Captain Thomas 
Bull), braving the perils of the times, 
would come forth at nightfall, climb 
the steep mountain side carrying him 
his food. 

This mountain has ever since been 
called "Bull Mountain" in remembrance 
of her wifely heroism, at its sum- 
mit is a lake, which has been christened 
"Loch Elizabeth." "The Stuart Cave," 
-tt-laJte,- which has been christened 
is still shown, and is a room fifteen 
feet wide by twenty long and from six 
to nine feet in height, solid rock, and 
is situated in a most inaccessible place 
in the mountain, a person having to lie 
down to crawl in. It still shows traces 
of fire, the rocks having scaled off in 
places, the effects of heat, and Eliza- 
beth Bull must have been intrepid in- 
deed, to have attempted so perilous an 
ascent. It is said that a company of 
Continental soldiers were encamped 
about half a mile from this cave and 
Mrs. Charles Northrop, of New Milford, 
informs us that her great-grandfather. 
Captain Jonathan Bull, entertained a 
number of British officers one winter, 
who were sent there with a squad of 
soldiers to protect Stephen Stuart at 
that time in hiding. As this was the 
old marching ground from the Hudson 
river to Hartford and a skirmish iS 
actually known to have occurred here, 
the history may be correct. It was this 



Captain Bull who led General Wash- 
ington's horse across the stringers of 
Bulls Bridge wii oh crosses the Hous- 
aionic juso below Bulls Falls, the 
urmge ueing at the time in process of 
erection. A snore distance irom the 
cave lies a oeauiifui sheet of water 
known as Haich s Jt-ond, or Lake tiiiza- 
beth, whicn aerives much interest 
from its associauona with the noble 
houses of bLuart ana Boieyn (BuUj. 

Captain Thomas Bun was born in 
Engianu in Ibuti, and was the great- 
grandson of bir James Boieyn, tne 
uncle of Annie. The father of Sir James 
and Thomas Boieyn was yir Jeffrey 
BuUen, a London merchant who was 
knighted by Richard III. and became 
Lord Mayor of London. 

While, Mr. Square was secreted in the 
cave, Elizabeth, whose wonderful voice 
was celebrated throughout thatsection, 
would daily walk out and sing across 
the waters to him. When danger was 
near she would warn him by selecting 
a plaintive air, when all was serene 
then her voice would ring out blithe- 
ly, while she dug roots, or was ab- 
sorbed seemingly in some pursuit. 
Sometimes she would stop to tighten 
her saddle girth, for she was a fine 
horsewoman, at others, her horse 
would fall lame and she would dis- 
mount and lead him. A slender petite 
woman, with dark shining eyes and a 
head of glossy dark hair, she was to 
be seien riding out daily, wearing a red 
cloak and a high steeple crowned hat. 
Ever the counselor, champion and 
friend of her husband, to whose" in- 
terests she was entirely devoted and 
her zeal, her untiring energy, her 
courage, her fidelity, would form a his- 
tory in itself. She, the daughteir of an 
old colonial house, intensely patriotic, 
and whose family were in the service 
of the Continental armies. Thrice was 
their home laid waste and the 
young mother with her helpless little 
ones forced to flee to the mountains for 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



131 



concealment and safety, guided by the 
light of their burning buildings. 

It were impossible to depict her an- 
guish when her two young sons were 
drafted into the Continental army, the 
youngest, Chapman Hamilton, being at 
that time but sixteen years of age. 
The elder brother, Homer, died at Fort 
Pickering, Salem, Mass., after a brief 
illness, December, 1808. A document 
of the time says, "He was buried with 
martial honors. There were muffled 
drums, all the men wore crape upon 
their ai-ms, and seemed to feel as bad 
as though he had been a brother." The 
next year Chapman was miade an of- 
ficer. In a letter to his oldest brother, 
Charles, he asks him to call the baby 
Irene, that having been their counter- 
sign for the past month and the name 
of the wife of his captain, and which 
name signified "Peace." Papers in the 
state departmeTit show that Mr. Stuart 
was arrested by the marshal of Con- 
necticut, 1814, for having furnished 
supplies to th'e enemy from the coast. 
His name is given as Jamies. "A gen- 
uine Highland gentleman," said Mrs. 
Ruby Church of Cornwall Bridge, 
Oonn. "Often have I seen him throw 
a shilling to th.e lad who held his stir- 
rups, a fine horseman indeed." Mrs. 
Ruby Chnrch died a few years since, 
aged nearly one hundred years. "I 
remember him well," said the late Hon. 
Pierpomt Edwards of Kent, "and at- 
tended school with his eldest son, 
Charles. He was a loyalist and a man 
who always carried himself very high, 
never laboi-ed and was very proud of 
his blood." He has been described as 
a man of large and commanding figure, 
showing unmistakable traits of his 
royal Stuart blood, and is said to have 
had a long face, a long nose, some- 
thing of a peculiarity about the eye and 
a sputter or stammering in his speech 
when excited, all marked characteris- 
tics of the Ainol-Stuarts. He was an 
Episcopalian by faith and is said to 
have been a zealous churchman dur- 



ing the latter part of his life. We have 
seen the old red pocketbook in which 
he used to keep his family papers and 
have been told how at twilight he 
would gather with his children round 
the fire, in his old age, and read them 
over, and sigh and lament that George 
III. had mot kept his promise, and that 
his sons, "gentleman's sons" he would 
say "should be obliged to work for a 
living." 

In Sabine's Loyalists of the Revolu- 
tion, Vol. II, p. 332, quotation is made 
from a letter written by Charles Stuart 
of New Yoirk to the Earl of Galloway 
in England, who was connected to the 
Athol Stuarts both by blood and inter- 
marriage. In Scharf's history of Mary- 
land, Vol II, pp. 408, 433, 445, we find 
that Stephen Stuart gave $379.18 to 
help the suffering American soldiers 
who were under the command of Gen. 
Lafayette. His name appears the sixth 
on the list. This was in 1781. James 
Charles Stephen Stuart died about 1834, 
aged nearly one hundred years, having 
outlived all his sons and is buried be- 
side his eldest son, Charles, in the 
rural cemetery opposite Bull Falls in 
Kent, Conn. 

"The lonely neglected grave of this 
man in whose veins flowed the blood 
of the royal Stuarts," says a writer of 
the times, "being a lasting monument 
to the treachery and ingratitude of 
George III." When one recalls the 
wrongs and struggles of this Prince of 
Scotland, continued for almost a cen- 
tury, his orphanage, his false position 
among a hostile people, exposed not 
only to all the evils of poverty, but to 
suspicion, calumny and insult, of the 
promises of the Howes to see him re- 
stored, of the perfidy of George III., of 
the persecution of the colonists, of his 
grief at the death of Homer, of the bat- 
tle fought so near him that he heard 
the roar of the cannon from his secret 
hiding place and was only prevented 
from joining them by the tears and en- 
treaties of his beautiful and courageous 



132 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



wife, who had come forth before daj^- 
break to warn him. Of the confisca- 
tion and distribution of his very con- 
siiderable property, one can but wonider 
at his patienice, his forbearance and liis 
conisistenicy, for surely he fought the 
battle of life bravely and despite perils 
and misfortunes almost unknown in 
the annals of all history, he remained 
true to those principles, founded and 
implanted by his fathers. 

Duriinig the latter years of his life Mr. 
Stuart received a small pension in lieu 
of his very consideirable property. His 
wife outlived her husband many years 
and died about 1854, near Saratoga 
Springs, New York, aged 104 years. 
We find documentary proof that the 
children of Stephen and Elizabeth 
Stuart were Anne, Charles, Homer, 
Chapman, Henry and Hermon. Anne, 
commonly called Nancy, married a Mr. 
Benson and moved west. 

From a letter to the township clerk 
of Kent, written by Stephen Stuart and 
also acco'mpanieid by the signature of 
his wife Elizabeth, and which letter 
bearing date of June 7, 1806 is still on 
file, we find that his oldest son, 
Charles, was born June 7, 1785. Charles 
Stuart remained in Litchfield county, 
where he married Hannah, daughter of 
Jehial Church, of Kent, by whom he 
had three daughters, Irene, Mary and 
Emily. He was a member of the State 
Legislature and an officer of the state 
miliua. He died in 1825 in the prime 
of life. Had he lived he might have 
done his counitry greai service, for he 
had a fine presence, a wondrously 
stored mind, and great powers of elo- 
quence, and has been described as a 
very erand and handsome man, having 
the fine form, and the dark complex- 
ion of the Stuarts. The pillar upon 
whom the family depended, his death 
was a blow from which they never re- 
covered. A simple stone marks his 
grave. 

Homer died young. Nothing is 
known of Chapman's descendants if 



any, or of Henry, cormmoinly called 
Harry. Hermon, the youngest son, 
married Submit, the sister of Hannah 
Church and appears to have remained 
in Kent. His childreni were Alon^o 
and Marietta, both of whom left sur- 
viving issue. 

PAUL C. SKIFF, M. D. 

The following sketch of Dr. Skiff is 
substantially taken from the History 
of the City of New Haven, Conn.: 

Among the maney men of mark 
whom Litchfield Co. has contributed 
tO' New Haven, is one of the city's 
most popular and eminent medical 
practitioners. Dr. Paul C. Skiff. 




PAUL C. SKIFF, M. D. 

In 1761 Nathan Skiff journeyed from 
Tolland county into the wilds of west- 
ern Connecticut. In what is now the 
town of Kent and on the western side 
of the Housatonic river, he purchased 
a large tract of land, including a 
mountain, which was named Skiff 
Mountain, and there the pioneer erect- 
ed his log house, with only the Scat- 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



^33 



acook Indians as his neighbors. Af- 
ter five years Nathan Skiff moved from 
his log house into a new frame house 
which he had built, and into whose 
chimney he had inserted a large square 
stone bearing the date "1766." When 
Nathan Skiff rested from his labors, 
house and land descended tO' his son, 
Nathan Skiff 2nd; from him to his 
youngest son, Luther Skiff; again 
to the latter's youngest son, Samuel A. 
Skiff, who sold it in 1875 to his broth- 
er, the subject of this sketch. 

Farm and homestead have therefore 
been occupied by the same family tor 
one hundred and thirty years. 

In this house on the 4th of October, 



in the Revolutionary army under Cap- 
tain Abraham Fuller of Kent, and re- 
sponded to the defense of New York 
in 1776, and in aid of Danbury when 
raided by General Tryon in 1777. He 
was the son of Nathan Skiff, sr., and 
Thankful Eaton, and he the son of 
Stephen of Tolland, and Elizabeth 
Hatch, and he the son of Nathan and 
Hepsiba Codman, of Martha's Vine- 
yard, and he the son of James and 
Mary Reeves, the emigrant. James 
Skiff, the first of the name, and un- 
doubtedly the ancestor of all the Skiffs 
in America, came from England, prob- 
ably London, about 1636. He re- 
moved to Saugus (now Lynn) and af- 




SKIFF MOUNTAIN HOMESTEAD. 



1828, Paul Cheeseborough Skiff was 
born. Dr. Skiff's parents, Luther Skiff 
and Hannah Comstock, were married 
April 8th, 1818, and had eleven chil- 
dren: Elijah, Mary Ann, Edward, 
Peter, Paul C, Helen, Hannah J., 
Giles, Samuel A., Margaret, and Mira, 
all born at the old homestead. As 
stated above Luther Skiff was the 
son of Nathan Skiff, jr., and Abigail 
Fuller. Their children were also born 
at the Skiff homestead, and were as 
follows: Elijah, Meses, Delia, He- 
man, Julius, Abigail, Thankful, Luther 
and Harriet. Nathan Skiff jr., served 



terwards became one of the founders 
of Sandwich, also taking a very prom- 
inent and active part in the affairs of 
Plymouth colony. A man of strong 
opinions and indomitable will, his in- 
fluence is shown in our histories of 
that setttlement. 

Dr. Skiff's grandmother Abigail Full- 
er was the daughter of Captain Zach- 
ariah Puller and Abigail Hubbell and 
he the son of Joseph Fuller and Lydia 
Day who was one of the original 
grantees and incorporators of the 
township of Kent. Joseph Fuller 
came from East Haddam to Kent in 



134 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



1738. He was the son of Jolin Fuller 
and Mehitable Rowley of Barnstable, 
whose parents were Samuel Fuller and 
Jane, daughter of the Rev. John La- 
throp of Scituate. They were married 
by Captain Miles Standish. Samuel 
Fuller with his father, Edward, and 
uncle Dr. Samuel Fuller, were among 
the Pilgrims who came in the Mayflow- 
er in 1620. Dr. Skiff's mother, Hannah 
Comstock, was the daughter of Peter 
Com stock and Hannah Piatt, and he 
the son of Eliphalet and Sarah Pratt 
anid he the son of Daniel, jr., and 
Catharine, who with his father, Daniel 
Comstock, sr., were also among the in- 
corporators of Kent. Daniel, sr., was 
the son of Christopher Comstock, the 
emigrant who came to Fairfield in 
1661. Dr. Skiffs maternal grandmoth- 
er, Hannah Piatt, was the daughter of 
Judge Zephaniah Piatt and Hannah 
Davis of Plattburgh, N. Y. Zephan- 
iah Piatt, jr., was the son of Captain 
Zephaniah Piatt, who was the son of 
Jonas Piatt and Haninah Saxton nf 
Huntington, L. I., who was son of Cap- 
tain Epenetus Piatt and Phoebe Wood 
and he the son of Richard Piatt, the 
emigrant who came to New Haven in 
1638 and settled in Milford. Thus it 
is shown that of the early families and 
settlers of the township of Kent, Dr. 
Skiff's ancestors include branches of 
the Comstock and Fuller line, also the 
families of Hubbel and Pratt, he de- 
scending from Captain Bphraim Hub- 
bel and Joseph Pratt, additional in- 
corporators of the town. 

Dr. Skiff's boyhood was spent in 
working upon the ancestral farm, and 
in profiting by such educational facil- 
ities as the town afforded. When he 
was fifteen years of age his mother's 
sister, Mrs. Mills Bissell, a most esti- 
mable lady, living on the Western 
reserve in the town of Austinburg, 
Ohio, invited him to come and live with 
her, and attend school at the neighbor- 
ing Grand River institute. Eagerly d'^- 
siring a liberal education, he deter- 



mined, in spite of many hindrances, to 
profit, if possible, by the offer. With 
his worldly goods in a small trunk, and 
with sixty dollars in his pocket, mon- 
ey given him by his grandmother Com- 
stock, he set forth alone for what was 
then the far west. After a four years' 
course of study in Austinburg, he re- 
turned to his home in Kent and for 
several years combined the tasks of 
managing a farm, teaching and the 
study of medicine. 

He graduated at the Yale Medical 
school in 1856. Afterwards he took a 
two years' post graduate course at the 
Jefferson Medical college in Philadel- 
phia under those eminent instructors, 
Professors Mutter, Pancost, Meigs, and 
Dungleson. 

Returning to New Haven in 1859 he 
began the practice of medicine and has 
resided in this city since that time. 

Dr. Skiff had oeen educated in the 
tenets of the old school of medicine but 
even during his stay in Philadelphia 
his attention had been called tO' new 
theories. After a careful and conscien- 
tious study of Homoeopathy, he con- 
cluded that it was an advance upon the 
elder medical system, and he embraced 
its principles. For this development 
he was indebted to the suggestions of 
Dr. Herring of Philadelphia and large- 
ly to the influence of his cousin. Dr. 
Charles Skiff, the earliest homoeo- 
pathic doctor iin New Haven and sec- 
onid in the state. 

Dr. Skiff's success in his profession 
was speedy. From the first year of 
practice to the present time he has 
been one of the busiest of men. His 
varied experiences have given him an 
acquaintance with all sorts and condi- 
tions of men. His skill in the healing 
art has been supported by prompt judg- 
ment, admirable foresight, unflagging 
good temper, and by an independent 
attitude toward all theories of practice. 
He has contributed to various medical 
journals, was one of the founders of 
tne State Homoeopathic society, and 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



135 



also an incorporator of Grace hospital 
of New Haven, a Homoeopathic insti- 
tution, and one of the most flourishing 
hospitals in New England, of which he 
is director and consulting physician. 

In June 1874, he married Miss Emma 
McGregor Ely of Brooklyn, N. Y., 
whose great grandfather on her fath- 
er's side was the Rev. Dr. David Ely 
of Lyme, Conn., and whose maternal 
grandfather was the Rev. Dr. Thomas 
Punderson of New Haven. They have 
one child, Pauline, born in May, 1880. 

REV. B. G. NORTHROP. 
Birdsey Grant Northrop was born :n 
Kent July 18, 1817. He was graduated 
at Yale college and Yale Theological 
seminary. His grandfather Amos North- 
rop graduated at Yale in 1762. He 
joined the Congregational church m 
Kent, when fourteen years of age. For 
ten years he was pastor at Saxonville, 
Mass., for ten years agent of the Mas- 
sachusetts board of education and for 
sixteen years state school superin- 
tendent of Coinnecticut. This period of 
twenty-six years of state work for pul)- 
lic schools is longer than the similar 
service of any other person in New 
England. His wide educational experi- 
ence early showed the close connec- 
tioin between the home and the school, 
his motto being "as is the home so is 
the school," and prompted a strong de- 
sire to work for the esthetic and sani- 
tary improvement of the homes of the 
American people. Hence he is recog- 
nized by the press as the "Father of 
Village Improvem^ent Societies," now 
spreading widely over the country from 
Maine to California. The New York 
Evening Post says: "There are very 
few men capable of working as Mr. 
Noirthrop has done for many years in 
a systematic effort to arouse enthusi- 
asm for these imiprovements, in which 
his apostleship has been a beneficent 
influence." 

Hon. J. Sterling Morton started Ar- 
bor Day for economic purposes — re- 



claiming the tractless prairies of the 
Trans-Missouri states, but Arbor Day 
in schools was originated by Mr. 
Northrop. His resolution in favor of 
this measure was unanimously adopt- 
ed by the American Forestry associa- 
tion in 1883. He has been annually re- 
appointed chairman of its committee to 
push their observance. This effort has 
achieved remarkable results. Arbor 
Day in schools is now observed in all 
of the United States and territories. 




REV. B. (;. \0RT1IR01'. 

except Delaware, Utah and the Indian 
territory, in all the Provinces of the 
Dominion of Canada, and in many for- 
eign countries including the Hawaiian 
Islands and Japan. Everywhere it is 
an adjunct of village improvement. 
Its school lessors are mostly ap- 
plied in dooryard adornments and in 
planting trees by the wayside. Dr. 
Northrop has lectured in most of the 
American states, in Honolulu and 
Japan and twice visited Europe and 
in his busy life found time to write a 
number of timely books and pamph- 



136 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



lets. The American Gardening says 
"The results of his teaching may be 
seen in thousands of towns in all parts 
of America. Succeeding generations 
will continue to appreciate the labors 
and bless the memory of Professor 
Northrop." 



Chapin, of New York, with whom he 
lived happily until his death. He died 
at his home in Kent, December 17, 1893, 
after a short and sudden illness of only 



EDWARDS JOHNSON INGERSOLI.. 

Edwards Jolinson Ingersoll, a son of 
Jared M. Ingersoll, was born in Kent, 
May 13, 1847. He received a partial 
education in the schools of Kent and 
completed it in the academy of Prof. 
Benjamin W. Dwight at New York. 
At one time he held a position in the 
Internal Revenue office, and afterwards 
filled a clerkship in New York, until his 
return to Kent in 1880. He was a mem- 
ber of the Seventh regiment, N. G. S. 
N. Y. for nine years. 

In politics Mr. Ingersoll was a Dem- 
ocrat and enjoyed the confidence of his 
fellow townsmen. He represented the 
town in the state legislature in 1887, 
and was assessor of taxes for several 
years, and for a number of years just 
prior to his death he had been treas- 
urer of St. Andrews Episcopal church. 

October 9, 1878, he married Miss 
Julia Chapin, a daughter of Dr. Reuben 




K. J. INGERSOLL. 

a few days duration. Besides a widow 
he left two daughters, Flora Edwards 
and Grace Chapin. 




RESIDENCE OF E. J. INGERSOLL. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



137 



DEACON JOHN C. BERRY. 

The farm on which the late Deacon 
John C. Berry lived all the years of his 
life and now occupied by one of his 




DEACON JOHN C. BERRY. 

two remaining sons, Jerome Berry, is 
interesting as being the scene upon 
which six generations of Berrys have 
passed and are still passing their lives. 
During this lapse of over 150 years 
they have always been in possession, 
son succeeding son in his efforts to up- 
hold the honored mtemory of the de- 
parted father. The original possessor 
of the lands included within the farm 
at North Kent, and one of the first in- 
stallments of settlers of Kent was 
Captain Nathaniel Berry who came 
there from Tolland in 1739. He was 
great-great-grandson of William Ber- 
ry who sailed from England with 
Captain John Mason and settled at 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1631. 

The name of Berry in England is 
one of ancient and honorable lineage, 
numbering among its line of ancestors 



many of the leading men and high of- 
ficials of County Devon. 

Deacon John Berry, recently de- 
ceased, was a familiar figure in all 
matters pertaining to the welfare of 
the town and relating to the church 
and was well known and beloved by 
all. 

The old farm is at present occupied 
by his son Jerome Berry, the fifth de- 
scendant, and by his family, his chil- 
dren making the sixth generation on 
the place. Jerome Berry married Flora 
E. Smith October 10, 1871. They are 
the parents of four children, viz: Fred- 
erick Marsh, Caroline Britton, Mar- 
garet Pratt and Mary Rebecca. 

GEORGE M. PAGE. 

George M. Page, a son of Clark Page, 
was born in Kent April 13, 1861. Af- 
ter receiving such instruction as the 




GEORGE M. PAGE. 

public schools afforded he completed 
his education at the Oneida Confer- 
ence academy at Cazenovia, N. Y. He 



138 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



then turned his attention to farming 
for a while and afterward to mining 
interests, and made several prospect- 
ing tours through the west, visiting the 
Dakotas, Morutana, Wyoming, Oregon, 
California, the Black Hills, etc., etc. 
During these expeditions he experi- 
enced many thrilling adventures. At 
one time while crossing Sioux Reserva- 
tion Mr. Page and his party found 
themselves only three days behind an- 
other party who were all murdered by 
the Indians, their goods stolen and de- 
stroyed and wagons burned. 

His first trip was to Western Da- 
kota and was made in 1879, but since 
that time he has made no less than 
nine trips through the west, during 
which he became interested in the cel- 
ebrated Coeur d'Alene mining scheme 
and took up emigrant claims in Wyom- 
ing. 

Though Mr. Page still owns interests 
in the west he has lived since 1890 in 
North Kent, where in addition to 
carrying on farming he runs a large 
saw and grist mill. 

One needs to converse with Mr. Page 
but a short time in order to find him 
thoroughly posted on all the topics of 
the day, a keen observer and a prac- 
tical business man, and of course it is 
needless to say a successful man. 



CLARK P. LANE. 

Clark P. Lane, a son of Edward B. 
Lane and Hannah Wolcott Lane, born 
in Bull's Bridge in the southern part 
of the town of Kent, on December 21, 
1842. He received his education in 
the public school at that place, after 
which he became a farmer. He fol- 
lowed that calling until he was twenty- 
three years old, when he entered the 
service of the Housatonic Railroad 
company. He began at the foot of the 
ladder, by working on a section of 
track, but has steadily mounted rung 
after rung until he now has a responsi- 
ble position. He has served during 



the past thirty years as brakeman, bag- 
gage master, freight conductor, and 
for a number of years has run passen- 
ger trains between Bridgeport, Conn., 
and Pittsfield, Mass. During this long 
term of service he has had a number 
of thrilling experiences and hair 
breadth escapes. Once while attempt- 
ing to couple two cars the bumpers 
slipped by and cracked three of his 
ribs. 

At another time about ten years ago 
a very singular thing happened to his 




CLARK p. LANE. 

train. He was running a north-bound 
express train from Bridgeport, and go- 
ing at the rate of fifty miles per hour. 
At Brookfield a bolt or other piece of 
iron had got wedged in the switch, thus 
leaving it half open and half closed. 
The result was that the forward cars 
kept the main track, while the rear car 
containing a funeral party took the 
switch and another car near the middle 
of the train jumped the track. When 
ihe train was brought to a standstill 
several rods beyond the switch all the 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



139 



cars were on 'the main track. The 
rear car had safely followed the switch 
without allowing its occupants to^ mis- 
trust their danger, and the middle car 
after receiving a considerable damage 
had returned to the track in the same 
manner that it left it. The damaged 
car was kicked on the siding and in ten 
minutes the train was on its way again. 
Mr. Lane is perhaps the most popu- 
lar conductor on the Berkshire division 
of the New York, New Haven & Hart- 
ford railroad. He is always polite and 
obliging to passengers, making all 
needed explanations and answering all 
questions, no matter how foolish they 
may be. This he is quite able to do 
for he seemingly knows every inch of 
the way between Pittsfield and Bridge- 
port. He is of the jolly nature and 
can tell a good story or enjoy a hearty 
laugh as well as the next one. - On De- 
cember 21, 1870, he married Miss Sarah 
E. Goodsell of Kent, a daughter of 
Isaac Goodsell, by whom he has had 
five children, Hugh Franklin, Charles 
Edward, Edith Cornelia, Clark Preston, 
and Rollie Goodsell. All are living 
except Edith, who died in 1880. 



REV. MARK B. HOWLAND. 
Rev. Mark B. Howland was born in 
Kent, October 29, 1846. He received 
his early education in the district 



school near his father's home on Kent 
mountain, and later enjoyed the advan- 
tages of Whittlesey's academy in New 
Preston. 




REV. MARK B. HOWLAND. 

On November 11, 1869, Mr. Howland 
married Miss Sarah Wilson, a daughter 
of John and Eliza Wilson, with whom 
he now lives and by whom he has three 
living children, Ralph, Howard and 



T</.. 



'k 



■t 




RESIDENCE OK REV. MARK B. IIOWLAND. 



140 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Harriet. He never held office for the 
reason that he is not an office seeker 
and would not accept of office. 

He has been a farmer from his youth 
up which avocation he still follows. In 
February, 1888, he was licensed by the 
M. E. conference as a local preacher, 
after having first served as an exhort- 
er. Since that time he has preached 
for several denominations, at one time 
taking a charge. He has driven some- 
times forty miles in a day to conduct 
a service. For the last eight years Mr. 
Howland has stood ready to go and 
carry the Gospel message and point 
the road to heaven, whether sun shone 
or cloud lowered. 

At one time when Mr. Howland 
wished to raise a barn it was hinted to 
him that it would be impossible to do 
it unless he furnished some strong 
drink, it being the time honored cus- 
tom to have it at a raising. But he in- 
sisted that he would raise the barn 
without strong drink even if he had to 
invite every minister in conference 
to help do it. It is needless to say 
that the barn was raised. 



LEWIS HENRY IVES 

Lewis Henry Ives, a son of Joseph 
Ives, jr., and Sally (Johmson) Ives 
was born in Kent, December 28, 1841. 

His grandfather, Joseph Ives, sr., 
passed his childhood in Pejiinsylvania 
where on arriving at the proper age 
he learned the trade of a cooper. He 
afterward removed to Kent bringing 
with him his son, Joseph Ives, jr., then 
a little boy. The latter on reaching 
manhood married Sally Johnson, a 
daughter of Eliphalet Johnson, who 
was a soldier in the patriot army in 
the Revolutionary war. Their union 
was blessed with only one son, Lewis 
Henry, the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Ives received his education in 
the public schools of the town, and 
afterward took up farming for a life 
work. 

On July 13, 1874, he married Miss 



Jennie Beebe, a daughter of Richard 
and Ann M. Beebe. Their union has 
been blessed with one daughter, Jo- 
sephine, who was recently married to 
George R. Simpson of Thomaston. 

Mr. Ives has held the office of con- 
stable and has a number of times been 
a juryman. Since 1890 he has had 
charge of the town house and its in- 
mates, who certainly could not have 
fallen into better hands. Both he and 
Mrs. Ives are as kind to them and as 




MR. AND MRS. LEWIS H. IVES. 

considerate of their wants as if they 
were their own children. In fact the 
writer comld name children who are 
not treated as kindly by their own pa- 
rents as are the present inmates of 
the Kent town house. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ives are people whom 
it is always a pleasure to meet. Their 
guests are made to feel perfectly at 
home and certain that they are in the 
hands of friends. 

Mr. Ives is a Republican in politics, 
a Congregationalist in religion and a 
member of the Masonic order. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



141 



JARED M. INGERSOLL. 

Jared Meritt Ingersoll was born in 
Sharon, Conn., August 29, 1824. He 
received his education at the Amenia 
seminary, Amenia, N. Y. 




JARED M. INGERSOLL. 

July 28, 1844, he married Miss Julia 
B. Smith, a daughter of Harvey Smith 
of Kent. 

He was for some years a prosperous 
merchant at the furnace store in Mace- 
donia, and later conducted a mercan- 
tile business at the depot in Kent. 

About 1860 he moved to New York, 
where for thirty years he was general 
salesman with Tefft, Welles & Co., at- 
tending to his duties until within a 
month of his death, which occurred at 
Kent, October 16, 1893, caused by 
Bright's disease. 



Fairfield county. Conn., December 22, 
1864. While he was quite young Ms 
father moved to Bulls Bridge in the 
town of Kent where he received his 
education in the public school. He 
was a general favorite with the re«t 
of the pupils and ranked well in his 
class. He was also fond of sports and 
at swimming and diving could beat the 
best. 

On April 25, 1888, Mr. Potter mar- 
ried Miss Emma Jane Terwillegar and 
in the spring of 1890 moved to Madi- 
son, Neb., where he followed farming 
for a while and afterward became a 
merchant. In 1893 he returned to Con- 




ELMER ANDREW POTTER. 

Elmer Andrew Potter, a son of 
Elisha Potter, was born in Sherman, 



ELMER A. POTTER. 

necticut because of the entreaties of 
his aged parents and settled in South 
Britain where he is now an enterpris- 
ing and prosperous merchant. Mr. 
Potter has one daughter. 



142 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



HON. CHARLES EDWARDS. 

Hon. Charles Edwards was born in 
Kent, Conn., February 17, 1811. He 
received his education in the public 




vey Smith of Kent and who is still 
living. 

Mr. Edwards was an old time Dem- 
ocrat and enjoyed the fullest confldenoe 
of his fellow citizens. Those who re- 
member him still quote his sayings. He 
served the public as state senator and 
representative and held almost every 
town office in existence. 

SAMUEL RILEY PEET. 

Samuel Riley Peet was born in the 
town of New Milford, Conn., January 
10, 1827. He is a lineal descendant of 
John Peet who came from Duffield Co., 
England, in the ship Hopewell, and 
settled in Stratford, Conn., in 1635. 
Samuel Peet was a representative of 
the third generation from John Peet, 
lived on the present Peet farm and 



HON. CHARLES EDWARDS. 

schools of Kent, to which he subse- 
quently added much by diligent study 
and keen observation. 

In early life he was a farmer but at 
one time he held a clerkship in the em- 
ploy of Sylvenus Merwin at Merwins- 
ville. I.,ater he took up the main bus- 
iness of his life — the iron industry. He 
was a practical iron manufacturer and 
thoroughly imderstood the business 
from the mine to the pig. He success- 
fully conducted the business at Kent 
for man3^ years, giving employment to 
anid bringing up a number of young 
men who have since become prominent 
citizens. He retired from business 
about 1860 with a competency, and 
died at his home in Kent December 14, 
1878. 

On January 1, 1833, he married Miss 
Flora Ann Smith, a daughter of Har- 



^*|«l 




SAMUEL RILEY PEET. 

was a hermit. He spent nearly all his 
life after he was forty years old in 
prayer at what is called "The Old Al- 
tar Rock." It is said that he contin- 
uously used one place and position so 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



143 



long that his knees and toes have left 
their imprint in the solid rock. He 
was something of an astronomer and 
his researches into that science 
brought him such fame that his effigy 
was placed in on© of the houses of 
Parliamemt, London. 

It was his request that he be buried 
beneath the exact spot where he had 
spent so many years in prayer but as 
the rock made interment there prac- 
tically impossible he was buried with- 
in a few feet of the place. The "Old 
Altar Rock" is still there and is a cur- 
iosity well worthy of a journey to see. 

The subject of this sketch is the 
great grandson of the hermit. He re- 



held a number of offices by their be- 
stowal. He has represented his town 
in the Legislature, has been selectman 
several times and once seven years in 
succession. Among the other offices 
held we note tax assessor and member 
of board of relief. 

There is a mineral spring on Mr. 
Peet's farm known as "The Pool" 
which is said to have wonderful med- 
icinal properties. 

JOHN W. NEWTON. 

John W. Newton, who resides in a 
comfortable farm house on the road 
from Kent to Bulls Bridge, was born 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. NEWTON. 



ceived his education in the public 
schools of Kent and the Amenia semi- 
nary of Amenia, N. Y. 

On November 13, 1849, he married 
Miss Laura H. Tompkins, a daughter 
of Benjamin Tompkins of Kent Hol- 
low by whom he has had six children, 
four of whom are living. 

He has been a farmer from his youth 
up and is a fair representative of that 
most important class of our popula- 
tion—the honest, upright American 
farmer. 

Mr. Peet enjoys the fullest oonfi- 
dence of his fellow townsmen and has 



in Kent October 9, 1860. He was ed- 
ucated in the public school and has 
followed farming for an occupation, 
and was at one time president of the 
Cemetery association at Bulls Bridge. 
On December 18, 1895, he married Miss 
Grace Hendrix of Gaylordsville. 

THE JUDD FAMILY. 

Surnames to distinguish families 
were first taken in England by men of 
rank but began to be used by the com- 
mon people in the 13th century. It is 
supposed that the surname Judd came 



144 



HISTORY OF KENT, 



from the Christian name Jiide just as 
many other surnames were formed 
from Christian names, as Peters from 
Peter. It is supposed that the change 
was made in this manner: A person 
called John the son of Jude changed 
his name to John Jude or Judd. 

There are two Judds mentioned in 
the "Rotuli Hundredorum" or Rolls 
of the Hundreds made by commission- 
ers about 1275 viz: Henry Judde of the 
county of Kent and John Judde of Ox- 
fordshire. It is said that one of the 
companions of Wat Tyler was a Judde. 
John Judd appears in 1529 and 1533 
and seems to have been in office under 
Henry VIII. Sir Andrew Judd of the 



a few dollars in either Boston or New 
York. 

Many Judds have died above the age 
of ninety, and a larger number above 
eighty, though none have reached 100. 

In this country the first Judds to re- 
ceive a collegiate education were Jon- 
athan and Reuben, who were grad- 
uates of Yale college in 1741 and were 
the first of the name to become pas- 
tors of churches. Benjamin Judd of 
Westbury was the first physician and 
William Judd of Parmington the first 
lawyer. 

During the Revolution four Judds in 
Fairfield county. Conn., disgraced the 
name by declaring for the British and 




RESIDENCE OF MOTT JUDD. 



county of Kent was a knight and be- 
came Mayor of London in 1550. He 
was wealthy and endowed a Grammar 
school at Tunbridge. 

The name is sometimes seen in Eng- 
lish history and still continues in Eng- 
land. A part of those bearing it are 
men of fortune and figure and are de- 
nominated gentlemen. It is quite 
common in Essex and is sometimes 
found among the officers of the army 
and navy. 

Two Judd coats of arms are described 
in Burke's General Armory of Eng- 
land, Scotland and Ireland in heraldic 
language which few understand. A 
Judd coat of arms can be obtained for 



joining the Reading association, but 
almost all were on the side of their 
country and helped to fight its battles. 
Reuben Judd of Weston was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier and a sentinel not far 
from Major Andre when he was exe- 
cuted. 

Thomas Judd, from whom the Judds 
in America are descended, came from 
England in 1633 or 1634 and settled 
at Cambridge, Mass. He removed to 
Hartford in 1636 and it is not improb- 
able that he was one of that company 
of about a hundred men, women and 
children who departed from Cambridge 
on the last day of May, 1636, and trav- 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



145 



eled through the wilderness to the 
Connecticut river. 

He had six sons and three daughters. 
Mott Judd, a son of Ira and Fanny 
Judd and a representative of the 
eighth generation from Thomas Judd 
is descended through Philip, the fifth 
son of Thomas Judd, all of whose 
children settled in Danbury before 
1720. The records in Danbury were 
burnt by the British in April, 1777, 
which makes it very difficult to trace 
family records, but the descendants of 
Philip Judd may be denominated the 
Danbui'y and Kent Branch. 

Mott Judd was born in Bull's Bridge, 
May 13, 1832. He has always been a 
farmer. He was twice married. His 
first wife was Sylvia W. Geer of Kent 
and his second, Christina Swart of 
Schoharie, N. Y. By his first wife he 
had two sons, Jerome and Charles. 
Both are living. Jerome is a teacher 
and Charles is a clergyman in Stam- 
ford. 



JOHN WESLEY KING, M. D. 

John Wesley King, M. D., son of 
Orson and Idalah (Wheeler) King, was 
born in Egremont, Mass., August 25, 
1845. He received a common school 
education, studied at the Berkshire 
Medical college. Dr. Beebe being his 
preceptor and graduated October, 1867. 
A promising outlook for a young 
physician presenting itself in Kent he 
located here May, 1868, at the early age 
of twenty-three years. 

Kent has been specially favored for 
years with physicians of the old school 
and several young men have attempted 
to locate here, but soon removed. Dr. 
King began his career with sincere, 
earnest desire to secure the confidence 
of his patients and was soon reward- 
ed, for his success was so marked we 
seldom asked for counsel and his prac- 
tice extended to adjoining towns. He 
was the only physician in the town the 
greater part of the twenty-six years 



of his practice, but not without other 
young men trying to locate here who 
were soon discouraged, for the people of 
Kent were not easily led from one who 
had won their hearts and confidence 
as Dr. King had. His portly figure, 
most genial countenance, gentle man- 
ner, and sympathetic nature endowed 
him with a remarkable power that 
gave him the confidence and love of a 
people that to-day mourn his early 
death as untimely. Indeed, he was a 
physician and man that few country 




DR. JOHN W. KING. 

towns are blessed with. He is mourn- 
ed from the hearthstone of many as 
a personal friend. When Kent knew 
their loved physician was seriously ill 
we felt he must yet be spared to us; 
he looked so strong, was ever ready 
for every call of duty, at night or 
day; in storm, or sunshine; to rich or 
poor alike he gave his best service, 
but his life work was ending, he had 
worked faithfully and well, and it was 
finished at the early age of forty-nine 



146 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



years. He is survived by a daughter, 
Mary L., by a first wife, Ida Howland; 
his second wife, Mary Bell (Banks), 
and their children, Louise M., Wheeler 
B., Charlotte B. He died November 
14, 1894, and was laid to rest in Kent, 
his newly made home and among his 
trusting, loving friends. 

"In memoriam to Dr. J. W. King: 
He has done the work of a true man 
Crown him, honor him, love him; 
Weep over him tears of woman. 
Stoop manliest braves above him. 

No duty could overtask him. 
No need his will outrun; 
Or ever our lips could ask him. 
His hands the work had done. 
Nov. 1894." 



LUTHER EATON. 

Luther Eaton, a son of Ira Eaton, 
was born in Kent January 4, 1826. He 
was educated in the public schools of 
the town and J. C. Howard academy in 
Warren, Conn. On March 26, 1850, 
he married Miss Sophronia E. Tobey, 
of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., his present 
wife. From his youth up Mr. Eaton 
has been a farmer and still has some- 
thing to do in overseeing his farms, 
and for thirty years he has been a 
packer and dealer in Connecticut leaf 
tobacco. In politics has always been 
a strong Democrat, both for sound 
money and protection, what has been 
fitly called a Samuel J. Randall Dem- 
ocrat. Mr. Eaton has always been one 
of the public men of Kent, and has 
held nearly every town office, besides 
representing the town in the Legis- 
lature in 1865, and with others had 
very much to do in 1881 in forming the 
Kent Water company, which succeed- 
ed in furnishing the village with an 
abundance of good water. Mr. Eaton 
has been president of the Water com- 
pany since 1882, and there has been 
no public enterprise started in the 



town of Kent but what Mr. Eaton has 
done his full share in both paying out 
money and in seeing to it that it was 
done as it should be. The family of 




LUTHER EATON. 

Eatons came to Kent about 1757 from 
the town of Tolland, Tolland county, 
Connecticut. 



CHARLES S. SMITH. 

Charles S. Smith, the station agent at 
Kent, was born at Stratford Novem- 
ber 5, 1848, and was married to Miss 
Ella C. Willard of Ravena, Ohio, March 
16, 1871. He was educated at the Strat- 
ford academy and has been in the em- 
ploy of the railroad company since he 
became of age. He has been tax col- 
lector, constable, justice of the peace, 
and member of the Legislature twice. 
He is alsO' interested in the grain and 
milling business and was one of the 
first to introduce gasoline engines in 
the state. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



147 



MARTIN B. LANE. 

Martin B. Lane, a son of Edward B. 
Lane, was born in Kent, January 4, 
1841. He received his education in 
the public schools of the town and 
quite early in life became a railroad 
man. At first he was in the service of 
the Naugatuck company, but later en- 
tered that of the Housatonic, where 
he was an efficient conductor for twen- 
ty years, in the course of which time 
he ran every train on the road. 

In 1881 he left the road and pur- 
chased a farm in Bulls Bridge, where 
he now lives. On September 1, 1884, 
Mr. Lane was appointed by Judge War- 
ner of the Court of Common Pleas, 
Indian agent for the Scatacook 
tribe of Indians at Bulls Bridge. The 
appointment was made at the request 
of the Indians and has been held by 
Mr. Lane ever since. Mr. Lane is one 
of the prominent and most public 
spirited men of Bulls Bridge. If the 
roads became blocked with snow in 
winter his men and teams appeared 
first on the scene, or if some poor per- 
son is in need of help he is the first to 
extend a helping hand. 

For several years Mr. Lane has been 
president of the Bulls Bridge Ceme- 
tery association, and the cemetery un- 



der his administration compares favor- 
ably in appearance with any cemetery 
in the state. 

On October 15, 1863, he married Miss 
Julia M. Lane. Four children have 




MARTIN B. LANE. 

blessed their union, Maud E., Freder- 
ick R., George S. and Willard M. The 
last three are living. 




RESIDENCE OF MARTIN B. LANE. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



LUMAN J. GALE. 

Luman J. Gale has been a resident 

of Kent since 1876. He was born July 

] 0, 185-1, in Dutchess county, N. Y. His 

mother came from Ireland in 1850. 




fell to his lot to be bound to a farmer 
at Clinton Dale, Ulster county, N. Y. 
His life there practically was similar 
to American slavery, void of con- 
sideration and educational advantages, 
subject to hard labor and cruel treat- 
ment. At the age of fourteen it be- 
came unbearable and he ran away, 
making his way to Illinois, where he 
remained until 1876, working at various 
occupations such as farming, clerk in 
country store, brickmaking and car- 
pentry. He married November 1, 
1883, Miss Welthia A. Hallock, an es- 
timable girl of South Kent, daughter 
of Isick E. Hallock. She died March 
26, 1884. Mr. Gale has been for a num- 
ber of years in the employ of Evans 
Brothers, contractors and builders, 
formerly of Merwinsville, now of 
Great Harrington. He is a fair type 
of a reliable citizen. 



JEROME F. GIBBS. 

Jerome P. Gibbs was born in Kent 
May 9, 1836. He received his educa- 
tion in the public schools of Kent, af- 
ter which he traveled for several years 
LUMAN J. GALE. jq^ ^j^q west partly if not mainly in 

His father was an American. He died search of adventure, 
early in life in 1861, leaving a family Shortly after his return on December 

of four small boys of whom the sub- 25, 1860, he married Miss Emma F. 
jeet of this sketch was next oldest. Hoag, his present wife, after which 
The family was soon separated and it he bought his present business which 




RESIDENCE OF JEROME F. GIBBS. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



149 



consists of household furnishings and 
to which he lias added a tin shop. 

Mr. Gibbs is at present senior war- 
den of St. Andrew's church and has 
been a vestryman for the past twenty- 
five years. He represented the town in 
the Legislature in 1886, has filled the 
oflice of town clerk since 1865 and that 
of judge of probate for twenty-two 
years. 

He enjoys the unbounded confidence 
of his fellow townsmen and is selected 
to office year after year, often with no 
opposing candidate in the field. 



REV. E. B. HAWLEY. 

Rev. E. B. Hawley is of Scotch and 
English descent. His father was Tru- 
man Hawley, who came to this coun- 
try when a young man to work at his 




REV. E. B. HAWLEY. 

trade as an iron and steel worker. He 
had six brothers, all of whom were 
captains of ships and all were lost at 
sea. He first married Mehitable 
"Walker to whom were born three chil- 



dren, Garwood, William and Betsey. 
His second wife was Lucinda Bronson, 
who was formerly married to Silas 
Davis of Westport, the children of 
this marriage being Polly, Betsey and 
Silas Davis. She was the mother of 
Rev. E. B. Hawley, who was born in 
Kent July 4, 1833, where he attended 
school until sixteen years of age, when 
he went to Cheshire to serve his time 
with Stephen Morse as carpenter. Lat- 
er he became a brakeman on the Hous- 
atonic road, then fireman and for about 
twenty-five years was an engineer. 

During this time he attended a 
prayer meeting which converted him, 
and after laboring for some time in the 
vineyard of the Lord he went to Bull's 
Bridge where he held meetings which 
resulted in the organization of the 
Union Gospel Mission which still flour- 
ishes. He has been chairman of the 
board of trustees ever since, and still 
preaches the gospel from place to 
place to do good and save souls. 



SPOONER FAMILY. 

William Spooner of Colchester, 
county of Essex, arrived in New Ply- 
mouth, Mass., early in 1637, probably 
from England, where there were 
many families of Spooners. He was 
about sixteen years of age, and was 
apprenticed to John Coombs, a well to 
do citizen of that town. 

Upon attaining his majority Mr. 
Coombs was to give him "One comely 
suite of Apparrell for Holy days," 
"One suite for working days," "Twelve 
bushels of Indian wheat," "A good ser- 
viceable muskett, bandaliers, and 
sword fit for service." "From various 
orders of court we conclude he was a 
faithful and competent steward, en- 
trusted with the administration of 
his master's estate, and the custody 
of his children." 

He resided in Plymouth until 1660, 
when he removed to Dartmouth, Mass. 



15° 



HISTORY OF KENT, 



By his first wife Elizabeth Partridge 
he had one child, John (2nd Gen.) born 
in 1646. Wm. S. died March 10, 1683. 
Wm. Spooner (.Srd Gen.) and second 
of John's children was born May 11, 

1680, grew up to be a farmer and re- 
sided at Dartmouth. He married 
Alice Blackwell, who was born May 8, 

1681. They had twelve children. The 
youngest of these was Ebenezer (4th 
Gen.) born May 29, 1724. He was a 
farmer and resided in Warren, Conn. 
He served in the Continental army 
during the French and Indian war. 
Was in privateer service in the Rev- 
olutionary war on the sloop "Charm- 
ing Polly" which was captured by 
the British May 16, 1777, was con- 
fined at "Old Mill Prison," Plymouth, 
England, from which he escaped and 
finally reached home. 

He married Jan. 29, 1745, Sarah, 
daughter of James and Patience (Rug- 
gles) Robinson. She was born Feb. 9, 
1720, and died in March, 1807. Her 
husband died in 1800. Their family 
consisted of eleven children. The 
third was Ebenezer (5th Gen.) born 
March 24, 1751, at Warren, Conn. He 
served with his father in the war, was 
captured, confined and escaped with 
him. Began life poor, but by hard 
work and honorable dealing accumu- 
lated a fine property, owning three 
hundred acres of land on the east side 
of the Housatonic river, in the south- 
ern part of Kent. A part of this land 
known as Spooner Hill, has been in 
the possession of the family ever since. 
He married April, ni4, his cousin, Re- 
becca, daughter of Wm. and Rachel 
(Noble) Spooner, born October 20, 1753. 
They had nine childi'en and as far as 
their means and the circumstances of 
the times would allow, gave them a 
thorough education. He died Feb. 8, 
1827. Their fifth child was Lewis, 
(6th Gen.) born July 14, 1783, married 
Oct. 17, 1809. Elizabeth, daughter of 
Nathan and Elizabeth (Hubbel) Slos- 



son of Kent, who was born May, 1784, 
died July 10, 1827. They lived on 
the home farm. Had five children. He 
died Dec. 31, 1852. Their third child 
was Lewis (7th Gen.), born April 30, 
1814. Married February 13, 1840, 
Editha, daughter of Barnabas and 
Mary (Botsford) Hatch of Kent, who 
was born March 21, 1813, died July 11, 
1860. They also lived on same farm. 
Had four children. Lewis S. died June 
12, 1874. Their oldest child was 
Charles L. (8th Gen.) born March 20, 
1845, married December 29, 1870, Edna 
A., daughter of Edgar and Eliza (Tib- 
bitts) Gregory of Sherman, Conn. They 
have three children, Lewis G., born 
February 14, 1873, Clifford C, born 
October 1, 1878, and William Henry, 
born April 12, 1884. 

Spooner Hill, so called because for 
a hundred and twenty years the Spoon- 
er family have resided there, is noted 
for the beautiful outlook one may have 
in all directions from its summit. 
Standing on the hill-top, midway be- 
tween Hatch Pond and the Housatonic 
River, the view unobstructed by tree 
or building, we can see parts of two 
states. New York and Connecticut, 
three counties, Dutchess, Fairfield and 
Litchfield, and eight townships. Paw- 
ling, Dover and Amenia in New York, 
and Sherman, New Milford, Sharon, 
Cornwall and Kent in Connecticut. 

The old-fashioned story and a half 
dwelling erected in 1790, standing a 
few rods west of the top of the hill, has 
sheltered four generations of Spoon- 
ers. No lock was ever used on it. 

Charles L., the present owner and 
occupant of the Spooner Hill farm, 
has held various town offices, repre- 
sented the town in the General Assem- 
bly of 1891 and 1892, is secretary of the 
Town Board of Education, a Congre- 
gationalist, a temperance man and a 
Republican. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



151 



JOHN SLOSSON. 

John Slosson, son of William, jr., 
and Margaret (Viets) Slosson, was 
born in Kent, January 9, 1844, is a 
farmer, and since 1875 has resided on 
the homestead of his paternal ances- 
tors. The homestead was bought No- 
vember 11, 1738, and the deed is now in 
possession of said John Slosson and 
says "Nathaniel Slosson bought of 
Ebenezer Bishop of Stanford (Stam- 
ford) Colony of Connecticut in New 
England, one right Part, Share or Al- 
lotment in the Township of Kent late- 
ly sold by ye Government which is 
in said colony, the same being divided 
in fifty-three Shares or Allotments of 
the land granted to the Colony, and 
covenanted in said deed to build and 
finish a house within a space of one 
year and four months from the date 
hereof, and to continue thereon for 
three successive years." He drew Lot 
No. 21 and came to Kent from Nor- 
walk, Conn., May 1, 1739. He was one 
of the first settlers of the town called 
"Proprietors"; was chosen Constable 
December 4, 1739; the second town 
meeting was held at his house Sep- 
tember 1, 1740; he was a lister in 1744; 
a committee of the first schools; com- 
mittee on land questions, etc., and died 
in 1787, aged 91. The homestead 
succeeded to his tenth child, Nathan; 
to his son Nathan, jr., in 1821, and 
three maiden sisters, each to the other 
till the death of Hannah in 1877, aged 
91, when John Slosson of the fifth 
generation secured the homestead, 
making a continual possession since 
1739. A long line of long lived de- 
scendants has gone from this small 
home, giving prominent men in state 
and town where located, but the only 
one of the name now in Kent is John 
Slosson, although there are descend- 
ants of a daughter of Nathan, sr. The 
first house was built in 17^9 as re- 
quired by deed; a second was built in 
1774 and is now in good preservation, 
was enlarged in 1879-1883, and is good 



for generations to come. He married 
Anna Tomlinson Banks, January 25, 
1866, of Bridgeport, born in Danbury. 
Their sons, Frank Spooner and Wil- 
liam Bell, born in Kent, reside in 
Bridgeport, Conn. When William B. 
was born, November 21, 1876, there 
had not been a birth at the homestead 
since that of Mary, April 14, 1793, and 
there has been no marriage since that 
of Elizabeth, May 30, 1784, daughter 
of Nathan, sr. Old deeds and records 
give the name Slawson, Slasson, but 
Nathaniel signed his Slosson. 



ABEL TURRILL. 

Abel Turrill resides on his farm in 
Kent Hollow. He was born November 
24, 1834, and was married to Miss So- 




ABEL TURRILL. 

phia Beardsley, now deceased. He was 
educated in the public schools and at 
a private school in New Milford. He 
has always followed the occupation of 
farming. 



152 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



GEER FAMILY. 

George and Thomas Geer were born 
in Hevitree, Devon county, England, 
and being left orphans at an early age 
were cared for by their uncle. They 
were heirs to a large property and 
their uncle being a very avaricious 
man, wished to get them out of the 
way that the inheritance might be 
his. Accordingly he plotted with a 
friend who was a sea captain to take 
the boys to America. In order to get 
them on board the vessel he sent them 
to the captain with a letter with in- 
structions to wait for a reply. They 
remained as directed, but to their sur- 
prise while waiting found themselves 
the victims of deception and already 
on their passage without the possibil- 
ity of returning. 

The ship on board of which they 
found themselves unexpected prison- 
ers arrived in Boston in 1635. George 
was then fourteen and Thomas twelve. 
They were put on shore in a new coun- 
try without money and without friends 
to counsel them. But though young 
it seems they soon perceived that they 
were in a land open to enterprise and 
adventure. For several years after 
their arrival in Boston we find no his- 
tory of their lives. It was a time in 
which the affairs of the infant colonies 
were in an unsettled state and the col- 
onists were often called to arms by 
the sound of the Indian war whoop. 
But if this unrecorded part of the lives 
of George and Thomas Geer compares 
favorably with the subsequent portion 
which is recorded they shared their 
part of the duties and dangers both 
manfully and nobly. 

There is a tradition that George was 
one of that noble and daring band un- 
der Captain John Mason who attacked 
and destroyed the Pequot fort in Mys- 
tic, June 5, 1G37. He came to New 
London in company with Robert AUyn 
and others in 1651 and settled there. 

Thomas went to Salem, Mass., at an 



uncertain date and remained there till 
after the death of King Phillip in 1676. 
He afterwards settled in Enfield in 
1682. 

George Geer married Sarah, daugh- 
ter of Robert Allyn, on February 17, 
1658. They had several children, 
among them Joseph Geer, born Octo- 
ber 14, 1664. He married Sarah How- 
ard, by whom he had several children, 
among them Ezra Geer. He married 
and settled in Kent about 1750. His 
children were Nathaniel, Susan, Sarah, 
Ezra, jr., John, Elias, Elijah, Patience, 
David, Gardner, Alpheus, who was 
drowned in the North River while in 
the service of his country in the Revo- 
lutionary war, Margaret, Hannah and 
Elizabeth. 

David and Gardner remained in 
Kent and perhaps others. David had 
nine children, Sally, an infant, who 
died young, Welcome, Parmelia, Eliza, 
Cynthia, Armalina, Azuba and Phebe 
Ann. Welcome married Sylvia Bishop 
in 1819, by whom he had the following 
children: Nathaniel, David, Eveline 
R., Louisa M., Mary O., Charlotte and 
William, who both died very young, 
Charlotte A. and Sylvia W. Sylvia 
was married to Mott Judd of Bull's 
Bridge. They had two sons, Jerome 
and Charles. Both are living. 

The following story is told of John 
Geer, a son of Ezra Geer, who had set- 
tled on Geer mountain in Kent. 

On becoming of age he asked his 
father for his portion. His request 
was granted on condition that he ac- 
cept as such a horse and saddle and 
five pounds in money. He accepted 
the conditions and married the girl of 
his choice, who was then fourteen 
years old, and whose earthly posses- 
sions consisted of one feather bed. 
They started out in the spring not 
knowing where they were going and 
took horse, saddle and feather bed 
with them. They went to the corner 
near where Elroy Jennings now lives 
and after prayer for guidance, set up 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



153 



a stick whose fall was to determine 
the direction they were to take. It 
fell to the north. Accordingly they 
went to the north, .tit the end of the 
second day out they stopped for the 
night in the town of Peru, Berkshire 
county, Mass. In the morning they 
hired out to a farmer for the summer. 
When their term of service had ex- 
pired, Mr. Geer built a log house in 
which they lived through the winter, 
using sawed off logs for tables and 
chairs. They ultimately made their 
permanent home in Peru, raised a 
large family of children and gave each 
a farm. It is said that when John 
Geer died he was one of the wealthiest 
men in Berkshire county. After he be- 
came a money lender he took a large 
quantity of indigo for debt. Then in 
order to get rid of the indigo he made 
it a rule to lend money only to his 
customers for indigo. Of course many 
became indigo customers in order to 
get money and in that way he dis- 
posed of it all. 



FRED H. CHASE. 

Fred H. Chase, a son of John Chase, 
was born in Kent February 11, 1855. 
He received his education at Crosby's 
academy in the village, after which he 
turned his attention to farming. 



On December 30, 1879, he married 
Miss Clara W. Smith, a daughter of 
Stephen Smith, by whom he has three 
living children,. Jessie M., Nina M. and 
Frank P. 

In 1883 he bought out William Geer's 
mercantile business in South Kent, 
which he still owns and successfully 
conducts, having added several de- 
partments to the business, among 
which the feed business is certainly 
not the least. He is also postmaster 
and station agent and has been tax col- 
lector for the town for nine years — 
eight of them being in succession. 



REV. .lOHN T. WALSH. 

Rev. John T. Walsh is in charge of 
the Catholic mission. He writes as 
follows concerning the early and pres- 
ent history of the church in Kent: 

As you cross the river to enter the 
village of Kent, a small house stands 
on the right almost on the water's 
edge. In the year 1852 this house was 
occupied by John King, and beneath 
its roof in that year the first mass was 
celebrated in the town of Kent. The 
clergyman who officiated on the oc- 
casion was Father O'Gorman of Falls 
Village. Only once, as far as can now 
be ascertained, was mass said there. 




RESIDKNCE AND STORE OF FRED H. CHASE, SOUTH KENT. 



154 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Afterwards and until the year 1866 the 
Catholic people were accustomed to as- 
semble in a house just east of the pres- 
ent railroad station; and in that house, 
which was then the residence of Mr. 
Davis Tobin, mass was celebrated 
about once in three months. During 
those years the mission of Kent was 
not regularly attached to any parish, 
being attended sometimes from Falls 
Village and sometimes from Newtown. 
From '66 to 72 religious services for 
the Catholics of Kent township were 
held in a hall attached to the hotel 
just south of the depot and but a few 
yards distant from the residence of 
Mr. Tobin just mentioned. 

In 1871 New Milford parish was es- 
tablished. Kent became a mission 
thereof, being afterwards regularly 
attended from that place. Mass was 
said more frequently now — perhaps 
once a month. In 1872 Charles Ed- 
wards in a democratic spirit of liber- 
ality — and being at the time school 
committee, placed the district school 
at the disposal of the Catholics. The 
building still stands within about one 
hundred yards of the Soldiers' monu- 
ment. According to Mr. Edwards as 
"the school was erected for education- 
al and religious purposes the Catholic 
denomination, or any other, was en- 
titled to its free use upon the Sabbath" 
— of course for religious services only. 
The schoolroom was the scene of their 
pious and humble worship until the 
fall of 1884. In 1883 the Parish of 
Cornwall Bridge was erected and Kent 
mission was taken from New Milford 
and attached to the newly established 
parish to which it belongs at present. 

Father William O'R. Sheridan be- 
came its first pastor and built the 
church edifice which was dedicated to 
religious worship in the autumn of 
1884 by the late Vicar General Hughes. 
The Catholic population numbers over 
one hundred souls scattered through 
the district. During the last thirteen 
years they have been ministered to by 



the following clergymen in succession 
to Father Sheridan, viz: Rev. Wm. J. 
Doolin, during four years. Rev. M. 
Sheehan remained but a year, his 
health having failed. Rev. M. F. Rig- 
ney two years and Cray one. The 
present pastor. Rev. John T. Walsh 
arrived in 1894 and during his minis- 
tration the parochial residence was 
transferred from Cornwall Bridge to 
Sharon — the parish remaining the 
same, Kent being now a mission of 
Sharon. 



ALMON C. BRADLEY. 

Almon C. Bradley, a son of Alfred 
G. Bradley, was born in Bantam, Conn., 
July 22, 1863. While he was quite 




AI.MON C. KRADLEV. 

young his father removed to Kent, 
where he acquired his education in the 
public schools. 

On March 3, 1886, Mr. Bradley mar- 
ried Miss Ettie M. Sherman, of Trum- 
bull. Their union has been blessed 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



155 



with three children, Grover, Flora and 
Ethel. 

His early occupation was farming, 
but he exchanged it for a clerkship 
with William Geer, at that time a mer- 
chant at South Kent. When Geer sold 
out his business and moved to Step- 
ney Mr. Bradley went with him and 
continued in his employ for some 
time. Later he had charge of a mill 
and store in the employ of A. B. Ciir- 
tiss of that place. Next Mr. Bradley 
removed to Brookfield junction, where 
he served two years as night telegraph 
operator and five years as station 
agent. 

When Lee & Seabrook built a 
large creamery at South Kent in 1894, 
Mr. Bradley was selected to have its 
general oversight and accordingly re- 
turned to that place, where he now 
lives. He is also interested in fancy 
poultry, having a number of breeds 
constantly on hand. 

Mr. Bradley is very popular, having 
always a good word or a joke for ever.y 
one, and in short is one of those peo- 
ple whom it is always a pleasure to 
meet. 



GERMAN BENEDICT. 
German Benedict was born in Kent 
April 21, 1826. 

When a boy he attended school at 



the Geer Mountain district, and when 
he became a man took up farming. 
Later he dealt in horses and cattle, of 
which he was a splendid judge and ac- 




GERMAN^BEN EDICT. 

quired a competency. He was kind 
to the sick and needy, never turning a 
deaf ear to their wants. 

On April 14, 1865, he married Miss 
Flora Louise Parsels, a daughter of 




RESIDENCE OF MRS. GERMAN UENEDICT. 



156 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Daniel Allen Parsels of Paterson, 
Putnam Co., N. Y. Mr. Parsels is still 
living, though over eighty years of 
age. He owns a farm of 300 acres and 
during the past summer mowed in the 
field with the men. 

Mr. Benedict was smitten with a 
shock in April of 1887 from the effects 
of which he died on the 18th of the 
following October. 

Mr. Benedict left two daughters, 
Sarah B., who has become Mrs. Clar- 
ence A. Bigelow and lives in New 
Fairfield, Conn., and Miss Cora, who is 
at present attending school at the 
Courtland school for Young Ladies in 
Bridgeport. 



FREDERICK INGRAHAM. 

Frederick Ingraham, a son of Wil- 
liam Henry Ingraham, was born in 
Kent, June 20, 1861. He was educated 
in the public schools of the town and 
quite early in life selected agriculture 
for his occupation, which calling he 
has followed ever since with the excep- 
tion of three months when in the em- 
ploy of Scott & Granniss of Terry- 
ville, Conn., he drove team and other- 
wise handled horses. He has always 
lived in Kent with the exception of the 
three months spoken of and seven 



months besides when he was farming 
in Terryville. 

On October 10, 1893, he married Miss 
Emma G. Cummings, a daughter of 
George and Harriet Cummings, of 
Kent, by whom he has had several 
children. 

Mr. Ingraham is a careful, practical 
farmer, who thoroughly understands 
the business and makes a success of 
it. He is at present in charge of the 
farm of Luther Eaton. 



REV. W. G. ANDREWS, D. D. 

William Given Andrews, eldest son 
of Rev. William Watson and Mary 
Anne (Given) Andrews, was born in 
Kent, October 8, 1835; graduated at 
Marietta college. Marietta, Ohio, 1855; 
teacher in Peekskill, N. Y., and Fair- 
field and Hamden, Conn., 1855-59; stu- 
dent at Princeton theological semi- 
nary, Princeton, N. J., 1859-61; tutor 
at Marietta college, 1861-62; ordained 
deacon in the Protestant Episcopal 
church, September 26, 1862, and priest, 
January 3, 1864, both in Trinity church, 
Princeton, N. J.; missionary near 
Princeton and minister in charge at 
Trinity church. Rocky Hill, N. J., 1862- 
66; teacher in Rectory school and rec- 
tor's assistant in Grace church, Ham- 




RESIDENCE OF FRKI )KRI(:K INCJRAHAM. 
(Owned by Luther Eaton.) 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



157 



den, Conn., 1866-67; in Europe July to 
November, 1867; missionary at St 
Paul's chapel, New Haven, February 
to October, 1868; rector of the Church 
of the Ascension, New Haven (the same 
congregation) October 8, 1868 to No- 
vember 28, 1879; continued as minister 
in charge, December 4, 1879 to May 
16, 1880; officiated at Trinity church, 
Princeton, N. J., June to December, 
1880; officiated at Christ church, Guil- 
ford, Conn., January to April, 1881; 
rector of same church since April 24, 
1881. 

He has published the following pam- 
phlets: Sermon on "Christ's Method 
of Dealing With Impurity," 1870; ora- 
tion before the Alumni of Marietta col- 
lege on "The Relations of the Scholar 
to Labor and Capital," 1872; address 
before literary societies of Marietta 
college on "Culture and Government 
in America," 1885; paper read before 
the New Haven Colony Historical so- 
ciety on "The Trading House on the 
Paugassett," 1888; paper read before 
the Fairfield County Historical so- 
ciety on "William Samuel Johnson and 
the Making of the Constitution," 1890; 
sermon on "The Blessing of the Peace- 
makers," in commemoration of Lo- 
renzo T. Bennett, D. D. late rector- 
emeritus of Christ church, Guilford, 
1890; sermon on "The Early History 
of Christ Church, Guilford, Conn.," 



(preached September 16, 1894), 1895; 
address before the Sons of the Revolu- 
tion, Wilkesbarre, Penn. (July 4, 
1895) on "The Connecticut Charter 
and the Declaration of Independence," 
1895. Also many articles chiefly his- 
torical, in magazines, newspapers and 
elsewhere. 

He is a life-member of the New 
Haven Colony Historical society (of 
which he was secretary from 1873 until 
1880), and a member of the American 
Historical association. He has been 
archdeacon of New Haven (having 
oversight of missionary work in New- 
Haven county), since 1893; received 
the degree of doctor of divinity from 
Marietta college, 1885. 



MOTT DARLING. 
Mott Darling, who owns a large farm 
and dairy about a mile above South 
Kent, came from Amenia, Dutchess 
county. New York, where he was born 
April 16, 1851, and educated in the pub- 
lic schools. He was married July 4. 
1872, to Harriet M. Orton. He first 
lived in Kent when he was twenty-one 
years old, later moved back to his 
former home and twelve years ago re- 
turned again. He is registrar of voters 
and school committeeman for six year^. 
He has the distinction of at one time 
for several years shipping the most 
cans of milk of any one along the line 
of the Housatonic road. 




RESIDENCE OF MOTT DARLING 



158 



HISTORY OF KENT, 



GEORGE L. SEGER. 

George L. Seger, the present first 
selectman of the town, is a son of Ira 
Seger, and was born August 16, 183S, 
in Amenia, N. Y. 

While Mr. Seger was quite young his 
father returned to Kent from whence 
he had moved to Amenia and the sub- 
ject of this sketch enjoyed the educa- 
tional advantages of the Flanders acad- 
emy, at that time the most noted edu- 
cational institution in the town and 
situated in Flanders. 

On October 6, 1863, he married Miss 
Alzora J. Hall of Kent, by whom he 
has had seven children, five of whom 
are now living. 

Mr. Seger at one time held a clerk- 
ship in the employ of his uncle, Hiram 
Seger, at that time the merchant at 
South Kent, but the main business por- 
tion of his life has been devoted to ag- 
riculture. He is the sturdy, honest 
type of the American farmer and 
American manhood, and enjoys the 
confidence of his fellow townsmen. 



Besides holding the office of selectman 
he has held those of road inspector, 
member of board of relief, grand juroi', 
and was the first registrar of electors 
for the town, holding the last named 
office for sixteen years in succession. 



DAVID HENRY RODGERS. 

David Henry Rodgers was born in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 16, 1838. 
He was educated in the public schools 
of that place. He finally moved to 
Kent and followed farming for a 
while. On .July 4, 1862, he married 
Miss Catharine Hill, a daughter of 
Henry S. Hill, of Kent. He enlisted 
in the United States army in 1862 and 
served till the close of the war for the 
Union. He was wounded several 
times, and once at Petersburg, Va,, 
while taking part in a bayonet charge, 
was knocked senseless with the butt of 
a musket. At present he is agent for 
W. P. Rupert & Son, nurserymen of 
Seneca, N. Y. 




RESIDENCE OF DAVID H. RODGERS. 







RESIDENCE OF MRS. MARY WATSON. 



INDEX. 



Ackley, Benj 35, 113 

A dams, Aindrew 27 

Adams, Joseph 16 

Adams, Lucretia Almira 62 

Agiard, Alma 61 

Agard, Anah 60 

Algur, Andrew • 57 

Allen, David 33 

Allen, Ethan 86 

Allen, Mary E. Benedict 66 

Allyn, Roibt 152 

AUyn, Saraih 152 

Ames, Robert W 11 

Andrews, Benj 32 

Andrews, Chas. B 47 

Andrews, Jos 32 

Andrews, Mary Ann 62, 156 

Andrews, Rev. Geo. B 69 

Andrews, Rev. Samuel J 54 

Andrews, Rev.Wm. W. ..47, 53, 55, 156 

A ndrews, Saimuel 32 

Andrews, Wm. G 156 

Aniteney, Jolhn 76 

Ashmond, Frank 95 

Atwater, Rev. H. S 70 

Atwell, Rev. Wm 69 

Austin, Andrew J 45 

Austin, Elvira R 67 

Austin, Geo. C 44 

Austin, Hiannaih 65 

Austin, Mary E 67 

Averill, Oapt. Moses 113 

Avery, Daniel 36 

Avery, Humphrey ... 15, 16, 17, 20, 22 

Avery, Thos •• 32 

Bailev, Mrs 63 

Baily, Midhael 37 

Baldwin, Radhel 58 

Banks, Anna Tomlinson 151 

Banks, Mary Bell 146 

Barclay, Frederick White 67 

Barclay, Helen 66 

Barclay, Mary R 66 

Barclay, Thos. D., Rev 55 

Barker, Cornelia 66 

Barker, Elizabeth 63 

Barker, Emma 65 

Barker, Harriet 65 

Barker, James 64, 86 

Barker, Polly 64 

Barker, Watson Andrews 67 

- Barloiw, John 36 

Barman, Thomas 17 



Barn, Josiah 17 

Barnes, Step'hen 33 

Barnes, Willis 39 

Barnes, Wm 45 

Barnum, Abagail 56 

Barnum, Abel 17, 20 

Barnum, Amos 59 

Barnum, Amos 24, 37, 60 

Barnum, Anna 56, • 59 

Barnum, Catherine J 66 

Barnum, David 19 

Barnum, Bbenezer 

17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 49, 56, 59 

Barnum, Mrs. Sbenezer 59 

Barnum, Elizab'eitih 57 

Barnum, Mrs. Frances 99 

Barnum, Gideon 18, 24, 49, 56 

Barnum, Jehiel 18, 19, 24, 57 

Barnum, Jemima 57 

Barnum, Joshua 18 

Barnum, Julia 62, 64 

Ba:rnum, Miary 57 

Barnum, Matthew S 62 

Barnum, Natbaniel 17, 20 

Barnum, Richard 23 

Barnum, Sarah 60 

Barnum, Saraih Jane 64 

Barnum, Stephen 36 

Barnum, Wm 19, 23 

Barnum, Wm. H S2 

Barre, Josiah 17 

Barton, Chas 65 

Barton, Mrs. Chas 65 

Barton, Elmore 64 

Barton, Everett 66 

Barton, Hannah Jane 65 

Barton, Henry 66 

Barton. John 66 

Barton, Josepih 66 

Barton, Mary W 65 

Barton, Sarah E 64 

Barton. Sherman 66 

Barton, Thompson 65 

Bartom, Virginia Bronson 67 

Barton, Wilhelmina 66 

Barton, Wm 40, 41 

Bartram, Maria 63 

Bates, Adah 58 

Bates, Barnabas 58 

Bates, Mrs. Barnabas 58 

Bates, Cynthia 61 

Bates, Deacon 91 

Bates, Mrs. Hannah 62 



l62 



INDEX. 



Dates, Harriet 63 

Bates, John 59 

Bates, Joseph 32, 59 

Bates. Mrs. Josepih 59 

Bates, Nathaniel 59 

Daites, Reuben 61 

Bates, Thomas 5S 

Bates, Villilitty 59 

Batts, Sam'l 18, 23, 36, 49, 56, 58 

Batts, Raeliael 58 

Beach, Abel 11 1 

Beach, Mary 62 

Beach, Nancy 62 

Beamiond, Joseph 26 

Beardsley,Agur 114- 

Beardsley, Birdsey 114 - 

Beardsley, Chauncey 62 

Beardsley, Ephraim 59 - 

Beardsley, Irena Jennett 62 

Beardsley, Irwin J 114 - 

Beardsley, Mrs. Juainna 62 "" 

Beardsley, Marjory 62 _ 

Beardsley, Martha 59 - 

Beardsley, Sopihia 151 ~- 

Beardsley, Thalia 60 - 

Beardsley, Wells 32, 114 ^ 

Beibee, Ruth 56 

Beebe, Ann M 140 

Beebe, Daniel 32, 58 

Beebe, Esther 58 

Beebe, Jennie 140 

Beebe, Jo'hn 17, 18, 20, 24, 57 

Beebe. John Jr 57 

Beebe, Richard 140 

Beebe, Salby 62 

Beecher, Abra)ham 59 

Beecher, Mrs. Abraham 59 

Beecher, Abraham, Jr 59 

Beecher, Catherine 62 

Beecher, Emily Diadama 64 

Beecher, Lois Ann 65 

Beeeher, Dr. Lyman 53 

Beecher, Lydia Day 59 

Beecher, Samuel 59 

Beecher, Mrs. Samuel 59 

Beeman, Ebenezer 21, 24 

Beeman, Edwin D 42 

Beeman, Friend 21 

Beeman, John 21 

Beeman, Joseph 20 

Beeman, Thomas 17, 18, 19, 23, 32 

Beeman, Timothy 21 

Beeman, Tracy 37 

Beeman, Trnman 33 

Beement, Clark 37 

Beilby, Rev. W. F 70 

Beman, Daniel 24 

Beman, Matthias 36 

Bemonit, Lemuel 36 

Benedict, Ohas. B 41 

Benedict, Cora 156 

Benedict, Frank L 65 

Benedict, German 155, 156 

Benedict, Sarah B 156 



Benedict, Sherman 114 

Benmerdict, Abijalh 32 

Bennet, John 32 

Bennett, Mary 66 

Benson, Lucy 66 

Benson, Wm. A 66 

Bentley, Joihn 24 

Bentley, Mary 56 

Benton, Daniel J 56 

Bentcxn, Isaac 23, 57 

Benton, Jehial 24 

Benton, Jehiel 56 

Benton, Ruth 57 

Benton, Sarah 56 

Berrey, John 32 

Berry, BarnaJbas 32 

Berry, Abijah 60 

Berry, Ann 63 

Berry, Caroline 64 

Berry, Caroline B 137 

Berry, Caroline Britten 67 

Berry, Diadema 60 

Berrj^ Ebenezer 59 

Berry, Flora E 65 

Berry, Frank 47 

-Berry, Frederick M 64 

Berry, Frederick M 137 

Berry, Hannah 59 

Berry, Jehial 61 

BeriT, Jerome 64, 137 

Berry, John C 63. 137 

Berry, Jonathan 57 

Berry, Joseph 57 

Berry, Margaret P 137 

Berry, Margaret Pratt 67 

Berry, Mary Rebecca 137 

Berry, Nancy 60 

Berry, Nathaniel 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 

25, 30, 31, 35, 49, 56, 58, 91, 113, 137 

Beirry, Mrs. Nat'l 58 

Berry, Nathaniel Jr 113 

Berry, Rnth 59, 62 

Berry, Sophia P 64 

Berry, Thankful 60 

Berry, Widow 58 

Berry, Wm 137 

Besler, Martin R 41 

Betts, Widow 59 

Bierce, Ruth Ann 65 

Bierce, William 61 

Bigelow, Mrs. Clarence A 156 

Billings, Moses 21 

Birch, John 42 

Birge, Henry W 39 

Bisho-p, Sylvia 152 

Bissell, Luman P 63 

Bissell. Mrs. Luman 63 

Bissell, Mrs. Mills 134 

Bissell, Sarah J 65 

Blackman, Edward 32 

Blackney, Sarah 62 

Blackwell, Alice 150 

Blair, Asa 52, 55 



INDEX. 



163 



Blinn, CD 39 

Blytbe, John 63 

Boardraan, Sherman 21 

Bolles, J. A 5 

Bolton, Cornelius 65 

Booth, Reuben 68 

Bordwell, Jaae 21, 59 

Bordwell, Joel 51, 52, 55, 90 

Bordwell, Lavinia GO 

Bordwell, Mary 60 

Bordwell, Mills 63, 114 

Bordwell, Mills, 2nd 63 

Bordwell, Mrs 58 

Bordwell, Polly 60 

Bordwell, Rev. Joel 21 

Bordwell, Samuel 60 

Bostwick, John 30 

Bostwick, Nathaniel 18, 19, 20 

Bosworth, Nathaniel 21 

Botsford, Fanny 60 

Botsford, Sam'l 33 

Boyd, Robt 100 

Bradley, Alfred G 154 

Bradley, Almon C 154, 155 

Bradley, Davdd 59 

Bradley, Mrs. David 59 

Bradley, Ethel 155 

Bradley, Flora 155 

Bradley, Grover 155 

Bradley, Zadhariah 59 

Bradshaw, Electa 61 

Bradshaw, Emdli 62 

Bradshaiw, Jesse 61 

Bristol, Cornelia R 64 

Bronson, Hiram L 42 

Bronson, Lucinde 149 

Brown. Anna 61 

Brown, Arvin 61 

Brown. Disa 61 

Brown, Eleanor 59 

Brown, Elizabeth W 65 

Broiwn, Herman 32 

Brown, Hobby 45 

Brown, Jo^hn 34, 36 

Brown, Nathaniel 21 

Brown, Peggy 61 

Brown, Sally 61 

Brown, Wm 44 

Brownson, Benj. 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 32, 56 

Brownson, Daniel 56 

Brownson, John 35 

Brownson, Martha 56 

Brownson, Mary 56 

Brownson, Nathaniel 56 

Brownson, Ruth 56 

Brownson, Silas 32 

Bruce, Rev. Rufus 70 

Bruster, Peleg 20 

Bnckley, Calvin 37 

Bnell. Abagail 59 

Buell, Ozias 59 

Buell, Sally 60 

Bull, Aritta S • 65 

Bull, Caroline L 67 



Bull, Elizabeth 130 

Bull, Edith M 67 

Bull, Eugene W 56, 66 

Bull, Geo. R 56, 66, 83, 90 

Bull, Mrs. Geo. W 63 

Bull, Jacob 23, 34, 96 

Bull, John > 32, 37 

Bull, Jonathan 130 

Bull, Julia 62, 66 

Bull, Mrs. Lemuel 63 

Bull, Lois 65 

Bull, Louis 60 

Bull, Margaret M 66 

Bull, Mr 82 

Bull, Ralph W 65 

Bull, Saraih M 65 

Bull, Thomas 130 

Buman, Thoe 20 

Bump, Wm. H 66 

Burkhardt, Jdhn 100, 101 

Burnes, James 41 

Burnham, Wm 18, 19, 20, 21 

Burmhaunce, Isabel 66 

Burr, Peter 26 

Burton, Almeron 42 

Burton, Lewis 41 

Burton.. Naomi 37 

Burton, Silas 42 

Cable, Hiram • • • 44 

Cahoon, Grace 57 

Caldwell, Mr 54 

Camp, Caroline 61 

Camp, Ellen F. Monroe 66 

Camp, Isaac 21 

Camp, Josiah 35 

Camp, Levy 33 

Camp, Mrs. 0. R 70 

Camp, Walter B 114 

Campbell, Isabel 65 

Campbell, Margaret 59 

Oandee. Mary 65 

Canfield, Mary 56 

Canfield, Samuel 

17, 18, 20, 23, 32, 38, 56 

Capson, Thomas 17 

Carey, Lockwood 62 

Carhart, Barbara L 66 

Carpenter, John 45 

Carson. Thomas 17, 18, 20 

Carter, Benoni 32 

Carter, Betsey 63 

Carter, Oapt. Joseph 113 

Carter, Cassius M 66 

Carter, Dorcas 61, 63 

Carter. Eleazer 32 

Carter, Ethiel 59 

Carter, Heman 37 

Carter, Israel 58 

Carter, Jernsha 58, 65 

Carter, .Joseph 26, 30, 32, 34, 35 

Carteir, Laviniia 62, 65 

Carter, Lucy 59 

Carter, Lucy J 64 



164 



INDEX. 



Carter, Mary 65 

Carter, Mary J 64 

Carter, Newtooi 64 

Carter, Orlo 63 

Carter, Samuel 20, 2J 

Carter, Theresa Gibbs 65 

Carver, Jonathan 58 

Carver, Mrs. Jonathan 58 

Cary, John 18, 19 

Cary, Joseph 18, 19, 20, 21 

Case, Aaron 33 

Case, Van Ness 100 

Cass, Joseph C 61 

Castle, Mary 56 

Caswell, Anna 59, 60 

Caswell, Josiah 59 

Caswell, Mrs. Josiah 59 

Caswell, Julius 21, 59 

Caverly, John 20 

Caverly, Philip 17, 18, 19, 20 

Celley, Crag 32 

Chaffee, I.ydia Ann 66 

Chamberlain, Annette 67 

Chamberlain, Bartlet 32 

Chamberlain, Chloe 61 

Chamberlain, Mrs. Cybil 59 

Chamberlain, Dwight 98 

Chamberlain, Eleazer 32, 59 

Chamberlain, Elizur 59, 61 

Chamberlain, Erastus 38, 61 

Chamberlain, Geo 40, 44 

Chamberlain, Isaac 61 

Chamberlain, Jerusha 59 

Chamberlain, Mary Ann 64 

Chamberlain, Nathan Bates 64 

Chamberlain, Nat'l 59 

Chamberlain. Peleg 32, 57, 58 

Chamberlain, Mrs. Peleg 58 

Chamberlain, Reander 37 

Chamberlain, Samuel 36, 59 

Chamberlain, Sarah M 64 

Chamberlain, Solomon 38 

Chamberlain, Swift 37 

Chamberlain, Widow 61 

Chamberlain, Zelia 63 

Chambers, Jane 68 

Chickens, Benjamin 79 

Chiina, Richard 33 

Chittenden, Dr. Sam'l 61 

Chittenden, Lavinia 61 

Chapin, Chas W 65 

Chapin, Julia 136 

Chapin, Dr. Reuben 136 

Chapman, Elijah 36 

Chapman, Israel 33 

Chase, Chas 65 

Chase, Frank P 153 

Chase, Fred H 100, 153 

Chase, Gertrude E 67 

Chase, Jessie M 153 

Chase, Mary F 65 

Chase, Nina M 153 

Church, Daniel 57 



Church, Elias 58 

Church, Hannah 132 

Church, Jefhial 132 

Church, Mary J 61 

Church, Mrs. Ruby 131 

Church, Submit 132 

Clark, Cyrenus 59 

Clark, Harmon 42 

Clark, Harvey 43 

Clark, John 45 

Clark, Rhoda 59 

Clark, Samuel 68 

Clemens, Mrs 61 

Clemmons, John 18 

Closson, Nathaniel 18 

Cobb, John 36 

Oodman, He<psiba 133 

Coester, C. Fred 67 

Coester, Lillian W 67 

Coggswell, George 79. 97 

Coggswell, Archibald 79 

Cogshall, .Jay 64 

Cogshall, Mary L 64 

Cogswell, John 19 

Cogswell, Roger 21 

Cogswell, Wm 32 

Coksuer, Samuel 76 

Coleman, Aaron 59 

Coleman, Lois 59 

Collins, Edward 32 

Comstock, Abel 21, 24, 32, 57 

CoTOStock, Abijah 59 

Comstock, Anson 61 

Comstock, Betsey 60 

Comstock, Caroline 62 

Comstock, Catherine 56 

Comstock, Christopher 134 

Comstock, Daniel 

....17. 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 49, 56, 134 

Comstock, Daniel M 60 

Comstock, Mrs. Daniel M 60 

Comstock, Daniel Sr 

17, 18, 19, 24, 56, 134 

Comstock, David 24, 63, 113 

Comstock. David 2nd 62 

Comstock, Eliphalet ...35, 58, 113, 134 

Comstock, Gersham 21 

Ooimsitock, Gershon 57, 59 

Comstock, Hannah 133, 134 

Comstock, Heman 33 

Co'msitock, Lydia 59 

Comstock, Mary 56 

Comstock, Peter 113, 134 

Comstock, Rachael 59 

Comstock, Rachel 58 

Comstock, Ruth 61 

Comstock, Sally 60 

Comstock, Samuel 24 

Comstock, Sarah 58 

C'on , Abigail 58 

Conn, Jeanette 64 

Conn, Mary G 64 



-v 



INDEX. 



165 



Oonn, S'amuel C 55, 63 

Oonverse, Hiram '. 114 

Converse, Widoiw Sarah 63 

Cook, Edward 66 

Coombs, John I49 

Crane, Betsy 60 

Crane, Elijah 32 

Crane, Joseph 60 

Crane, Mrs 60 

Crawfut, Setih 32 

Crosby, Rev. Arthur 55 

Oroshy, Mrs. Arthur 65 

Crosby, Wm. G 65 

Crosby, Mrs. Wm. G 65 

Cross, Daniel 24 

Cuksuer, Thomas 76 

Cummings, Emma 156 

Cummings, Geo 156 

Cummings. Harriet 156 

Curtis, Ebenezer, Jr 21 

Curtis, Eleazer 30, 32, 35, 113 

Curtis, Joshiah 58 

Curtis, Mrs. Joshiah 58 

Curtis, Lican Der 33 

Cushman, Nathaniel 18, 19, 20 

Da,ine, Fred E 66 

Dakins. Edwards 100 

Danes, David 36 

Darish, Isaac 32 

Darling, Clarissa 67 

Darling. Mott 101, 157 

Davidson, Polly 61 

Davies, Rev. Thomas 68 

Davis, John 19, 20 

Davis, Henry P 64 

Davis, Hannah 134 

Davis, Silas 149 

Day, Lydia 133 

Dayton, DamiieJ 114 

Dayton, Isaac 81 

Delano, Anna Slosson 60 

Delano, Nathan 24 

Devotion, Ebenezer 18, 19, 20 

Dewey, Abby 61 

Dewey, Joseph B 42 

Dewey, Ruby Ann 62 

Diickenson, Joseph 36 

Dodge, Calvin 59 

Dodge, Gardiner 60 

Dodge, Mrs. Gardiner 60 

Dodge, Stephen 37, 113 

Donnelly, David 41 

Doolin, Rev,- Wm. J 154 

Douglas, Anna 60 

Douglas, Reuben H 45, 47 

Do'Uglas, Salmon 61 

Drew, Peter 37 

Dunbar, Everett 46 

Duncan, John 98 

Dunca'U, John M 46 

Duncumb, Chas 18, 19, 20 

Dunham, Hiram 61 

Dunham, Jonathan 17, 18, 20, 22 



Dunning, John 56 

Dunning, Hannah 56 

Dupont, Felix 41 

Durkee, Jedediah 25 

Dutcher, Henriette F 63 

Dwy, Henry C 65 

D wy, Nathaniel 101 

Dwye, Josie 66 

Dye, Daniel 32 

Dye, Patience 60 

Eaton, Alice B 67 

Eaton, Benj 58 

Eaton, Burritt 30, 66, 83, 90 

Eaton, Burritt, Jr 66 

Eaton, Chas A II4 

Baton, Earl R. . . . ; 67 

Eaton, Edward 71 

Eaton, Ezra 92 

Baton, Ira 114 

Eaton, Joseph 60 

Eaton, Julia Bally 66 

Eaton, Kate 67 

Baton, Lillie Amelia 65 

Eaton, Lucretia Mosher 65 

Baton, Luther 64, 88, 114, 146 

Baton, Moses 59 

Eaton, Mrs. iMoses 59 

Eaton, Phebe 60 

Baton, Rachel 60 

Baton, Reuben 66, 114 

Baton, Mrs. Russell 56 

Eatoin, Ruth Ann Bennett 67 

Eaton, Saphroni>a E 64 

Eaton, Sarah A 71 

Eaton, Sopihia R. Judd 64 

Baton, Thankful 133 

Edwards, Almeda Lane 66 

Edwards, Chas 97, 99, 114 

Edwards, Flora Ann Smith 62 

Edwards, Harmon T 43 

Edwards, Hon. Chas 142, 154 

Edwards, Hon. Pierpont 131 

Eldrid, Jehoshaphat 20, 21, 35 

Edwards, Josiah 32 

Edwards, Susan 61 

Eldridge, Judah 32 

Elill. Rohert 41 

Elliot, Nathan 30, 113, 114 

Elliott, Matthew 113, 114 

Blwell, Rebekah 59, 61 

Ely, Emma MciGregor 135 

Ely, Dr. David 135 

Bngersoll, Joel 33 

Erb. Eugene 41 

Erwin, Mrs. L 62 

Erwin, WilMam 62 

Evetts. Edwin 46 

Pairchild, Abigal 59 

Fairchild, Levi 32 

Fairchild. Sam'l 36, 59 

Faiirweather, Benj 26 

Falkner, Ebenezer 60 

Fanton, Emiline 100 



i66 



INDEX. 



Fash, Rev. Mr 69 

Fenn, Frederick J 95 

Fenn, Gamaliel 59 

Fenn, Geo 114 

Fenn, Hannah 61 

Fenn, Lois 59 

Fenton, Francis 17, 18, 20, 21 

Ferris, David 20, 21 

Ferriss, Joel 21 

Ferriss, Amaziah 21 

Finney, Eleazer 32 

Finney, Jobn 20 

Finney, John Jr 21 

Fitch, John 19 

Fitch, Prentice ^56 

Fletcher, Sarah Pratt 61 

Foot, John 21, 33 

Foote, Rev. Geo. L 69 

Forgues, Ehenezer 37 

Fowler, Benj 33 

Fowler, Lucy Frear 65 

Frear, Eliza 65 

Freeman, Call 36 

Freeman, Claira 62 

Freeman, Cuff 36 

Freeman, Louise Mattie 66 

Freeman, Marcus 65 

French, John 19, 20, 21 

Friar, Frank 44 

Frier, Oliver 44 

Frink, Austin L 44 

Frink, Harriet E 67 

Frink, Polly 60 

Frisbie, Jaimes 33 

Frisbie, Mabel E 67 

Frisbie, Randolph 67 

Fry, Henry 44 

Fry, Rev. Jeremiah 71 

Fuller, Abel 33 

Fuller, Abigail 133 

Fuller, Abraham 

26, 32, 34, 35, 58, 63, 77, 78, 133 

Fuller, Adaline 61 

Fuller, Alice 58 

Fuller, Alpheus 69, 114 

Fuller, Ann R 63 

Fuller, Ashbel 32, 62 

Fuller, Bemis 60 

Fuller, Benajah 59 

F\iller, Mrs. Benajah 59 

Fuller, Botsford 49 

Fuller, Caroline 63 

Fuller, Ohas. J 114 

Fuller, David B 64 

Fuller, David N 63 

Fuller, Dolly 62 

Fuller, Edward 134 

Fuller, Ellen C 65 

Fuller, Emily M 63 

Fuller, Ephra.im 32, 35, 59, 60 

Fuller, Henry 1 114 

Fuller, James 61 

Fuller, Jereimiah 59, 60, 63, 69 



Fuller, Mrs. Jeremiah 64 

Fuller, Jerusha 64 

Fuller, Jesse 63 

Pullei', John M 63 

Fuller, John Ramsom 60, 134 

Fuller, Joseph ... 18, 19, 24, 49, 56, 133 

Fuller, Julia 61 

Fuller, Lavina 64 

Fuller, Lizzie 66 

Fuller, Loisa 60 

Fuller, Luther C 63 

Fuller, Lydia 56, 58, 65 

Fuller, Margaret B 64 

Fuller, Maria 63 

Fuller, Mary Catherine 63 

Fuller, Miss M. L 70 

Fuller, Mrs 58 

Fuller, Mrs. Catherine 88 

Fuller, Nathaniel 20 

Fuller, Olive 65 

Fuller, Olive C 63 

Fuller, Dr. Oliver 59, 60 

Fuller. Mrs. Oliver 59, 60 

Fuller, R. G 70 

Fuller, Reibeckah 59 

Fuller, Revillo 60, 61 

Fuller, Mrs. Revillo 60 

Fuller, Rufus 63, 99 

Fuller, Rufus Jr 114 

Fuller, Ruth 59 

Fuller, Samuel 134 

Fuller, Dr. Samuel 134 

Fuller, Simeon 21 

Fuller, William 64 

Fuller, Zachariah 133 

Fullets, Mrs 61 

Galusha, Jacob 24 

Gaylord, C. H 88 

Gaylord, Ellen F 66 

Geer, Alpheus 152 

Geer, Anna L 62 

Geer, Armalina 152 

G eer, Azuba 152 

Geer, Charlotte 152 

Geer, Charlotte A ' 152 

Geer, Cynthia 59, 62, 152 

Geer, David 59, 152 

Geer, Elias 152 

Geer, Elijah 152 

Geer, Eliza 152 

Geer, Eveline R 152 

Geer, Ezra 59, 152 

Geer, Mrs. Ezra 59 

Geer, Ezra Jr 152 

Geer, Gardner 152 

Geer, Geo 152 

Geer, John 33 

Geer, John 152 

Geer, Joseph 152 

Geer, Louisa M 152 

Gale, Luman J 148 

Geer, Margaret 60 

Geer, Mary 152 



INDEX. 



167 



Geer, Milo 69 

Geer, Nat'l 32, 152 

Geer, Pameilia 152 

Geer, Patience 152 

Geer, Phebe Anu 152 

Geer, Sally 152 

Geer, Sarah 152 

Geer, Silas 19, 20 

Geer, Susan 152 

Geer, Sylvia 62 

Geer, Sylvia W 145, 152 

Gear, Th-ois 152 

Geer, W 70 

Geer, Welcome 152 

Geer, Wm 100, 152, 155 

Geltson, Rev 52 

Gibbs, Catherine 63 

Gibibs, Emma 66 

Gibbs, Eunice 64 

Gibbs, J. F 28, 114, 148, 149 

Gibbs, Louise 66 

Gibbs, Marshall C 55, 63, 114 

Gibbs, Mary Ann 66 

Git)bs, Reuben 63 

Gibbs, Reuben M 66 

Gibbs, Rhoda 63 

Gibbs, Roxanma Brooks 66 

Gibbs, Sarah E 63 

Gibbs, Tilloitson 64 

Gilbert, Allen 63, 98 

Gilbert, Amelia 62 

Gilbert, Anna M 67 

Gilbert, Caroline 63 

Gilbert, David 61 

Gilbert, Edith L 67 

Gilbert, Francis A 64 

Gilbert, Frederick H 64, 98 

Gilbert, Henry 98 

Gilbard, John 33 

Gilbert, John 61, 98 

Gilbert, Maria 62 

Gilbert, Mrs 61 

Gilbert, Mrs. Allen 63 

Gilbert, Sabra 64 

Gilbert, Rev. Sturgis 68, 69 

Gilbert, Truman 32 

Gillett, Rhoda 58 

Gold. Nathaniel 26 

Goodsell, Isaiac 139 

Goiodsell, Sarah E 139 

Gordoin, Mrs 65 

Gove, Moses 16 

Grant, Mary 65 

Gray, EMjalh 37 

Gray, Timothy 58 

Greenwo'od, Mr 53 

Greg'oiry, Edgar 150 

Greg-ory, Edna 150 

Gregory, Edward 97 

Gregory, Eliza T 150 

Gregory, Elizaibeth 61 

Gregory, Stephen ; 61 

Gregory, Mrs. Stephen 61 



Gregory, Winifred 67 

Greggs, John S 65 

Greggs, Mary L 65 

Griffin, James 44 

Griffin, Simeon 101 

Griffith, Rev. Geo 70 

Griswold, Arthur W 67 

Griswold, Josiah 19, 20 

Griswold, Rose D 67 

Guthrie, Ephraim 25 

Guthrie, Joseph 30 

Guthrie, Wm 25 

Halt, Ebenezer 32 

Hatch, Abigail 63 

Hatch, Almira 60 

Hatch, Biarnabais 

....18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 32, 57, 60, 150 

Hatch, Betsy 61 

Hatch, Camp 61 

Hatch, Clark 59 

Hatch, Deborah 56 

Hatch, Ediitha 62, 150 

Hatch, Elizabeth 133 

Hatch, Fanna 62 

Hatch, Fan^nie 66 

Hatch, James 58 

Hatch, Jedida 56 

Hatch, Jennie 65 

Hatch, Jethro . . 21, 24, 32, 35, 57, 113 

Hatch, Joseph 17, 18, 21 

HatcTi, Julia 64 

Hatclh, Lucinda 63 

Hatch, Martha 57 

Hatch, Mary 62 

Hatch, Mary B 66, 150 

Hatch, Mrs. Clark 59 

Hatch, Mrs. Thomas 58 

Hatch, Nathaniel 35 

Hatdh, Nellie Chamberlain 67 

Hatch, Orville ol 

Hatch, Phebe 57 

Hatch, Polly 60 

Hatch, Thomas 58 

Hatch, Timothy 

18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 30, 56, 59 

Hatch, Sylvanius 19, 21, 56 

Hatch, Walter B 66 

Hall, Alfred E 66 

Hall, Alzona J 158 

Hall, Ariminita V 66 

Hall, Betsey 61 

Hall, Catherine 62 

Hall, Curtis 41 

Hall, Daniel 32 

Flail, Geo. B 64 

Hall, Homer 45 

Hall, Julia R 64 

Hall, Lucy 64, 67 

Hall, Luther 42 

Hall, Northrop 62 

Hall, Pataline 61 

Hall, Sarah F 64 

Hall, Widow Mary 81 



i68 



INDEX. 



Hallock, Dwight 41 

Hallock, Isick E 148 

Hallock, Welthia A 148 

Hambleton, Benj 57 

Hambleton, Esther 56 

Hamilton, Benj 24 

Hamilton, Susan Slosson 58 

Hammond, Seneca 45 

Harrington, Edwin 40, 43 

Harris, James 79 

Harris, Henry 72, 79 

Hassell. J 24 

Hawley, Betsey 149 

Hawley, Garwood 149 

Hawley, Lucy 62 

Hawley, Mehitable 62 

Hawley, Mrs 61 

Hawley, Polly 149 

Hawley, Rev. E. B 95, 149 

Hawley, Sally 60 

-Hawley, Sam'l 32 

Hawley, Silas D 149 

Hawley, Sylvester 61 

Hawley, Talcut 33 

Hawley, Trumam 62, 149 

Hawley, iMrs. Truman 62 

Hawley, Wm 149 

Haxton, 'Mrs 88 

Haymomd, Hannah 58 

Hector, Gilead 33 

Hector, Wm 33 

Hen'dersom, John 19 

Henderson, John 23 

Hendrix, Grace 143 

Hiickok, Eliza 62 

Hickok, Laurens P 52, 53, 55 

Hill, Catherine 158 

Hill, Ebenezer 36 

Hill, Ebenezer Jr 37 

Hill, Henry S 158 

Hill, Sally 61 

Hillard, Rev. E. B 5 

Hines, Pe'ter 33 

Hinman, Benj 31 

Hinman, Justice 33 

Hinman, R. S 103 

Hinckley, Solomon 40, 42 

Hitchcock, Capt. John 113 

Holt, Electrons 28 

Hoit, Mrs. 59 

Hoag, Caroline 62 

Hoag, Emma F 148 

Hoag, Luman 44 

Hoag, Mary 64 

Holmes, Gers'hom 32, 35 

Hopkins, Judah 32 

Hopkins, Lima 63 

Hopper, Mary 62 

HO'pson, Ann E 65 

Hopson, Catherine Mills 66 

Hopson, Geo 68, 88 

Hopson, Jofhn 65, 88 

Hopson, Mrs. John 56 



82 



Hopsoin, Joton Jr 

HopsO'U, Julia 

Hopson, Miss Mary A 

HopsO'U, Mary A 

Hopso.n, Mr 

Hiopson, Rehecca Jane .... 

Hopson, Seth W 

Hopson, Wm. T 

Hougtiton, Maria 

Hotchkiss, Sam'l 

Ho'llister, Benjamin 

Howland, Cyrus 

Howland, Harriet 

Howland, Howard 

Howland, Ma 

Howland, J. E 

Howlamd, Rev. Mark B. . . 

Howland, Ralph 

Howland. Saraih 

Hubbard, James 

Hu'bbel, Alice 

Hubbel, Ebenezer 22 

Hubbel, Ephraiim 

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 58, 

Hubbel, Jediah 21, 30, 

Hubbel, Jonathan 17, 18, 

Hubbel, Peter 17, 18 

Hubbel, Richard . . 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 

Hubbel, Silas 

Hubbell, Abigail 

Hubbell, Abijah 

Hubbell, Ephraim Jr 

Hubbell, Esbon 

Hubbell, iMehittaible 

Hubbell, Rachel 

Hubbell, Zalmon 

Hubble, Fear 

Hubble, Mehitable 

Hubble, Ruth 

Hubble, Samuel 57, 

Hucker, Wm 

Hungerford, Emma 

Hunt, Samuel 

Hunter, Flora Jane 

Huntington, Hezekiah 

Huntington, Jonathan 15, 

Hurd, Betsey 

Hurd, Jabez 

Hurd, John 

Hurlburt, Joseph 

Hurlbut, Weight 

Hutchins, John B 

Ingraham, Fred'k 

Ingraham, Wm. H 42, 

Ingersoll, Edwards J 114, 

Ingersoll, Grace C 

Ingersoll, Flora E 

Ingerso'll, Jared M 136, 

Ingersioll, Julia E 

Ingersoll, Mrs 

•Ives, Almira 

Ives, Carrie 

Ives, Joseph, Sr » . . . 



65 

66 

56 

65 

S4 

65 

114 

114 

71 

20 

76 

44 

140 

139 

146 

65 

139 

139 

152 

40 

58 

, 24 

134 

113 

21 

21 

, 26 

32 

133 

32 

113 

59 

59 

61 

61 

60 

57 

57 

59 

33 

65 

33 

64 

16 

16 

60 

81 

69 

11 

33 

45 

156 

156 

136 

136 

136 

141 

C7 

88 

66 

6-3 

140 



INDEX. 



169 



Ives, Josepih Jr 140 

Ives. Lewis iH 140 

Ives, Sally Jolh.nsoii 140 

Jacks'on, Micihael 61 

Jelluf, Rev. Hiram 69 

Jenks, Elmoire F 44 

Jeaniings, Elroy 44, 152 

JennJings, Loviaa 60 

Jennings, Myron M 43 

JohnsO'n, Catherine 64 

Johnson, Chas. R 67 

Jdhinison, Daniel 61 

Johnson, Eliphalet 140 

Johnson, Henry P 44 

Jiolhnson, Jerome 40, 43 

Johusoin, Mary 66 

Joihnsoih, Sally 140 

.lohnson, Saim'l Wm 20, 21 

JohnisoE, Timothy 33 

Jones, Luman 61 

Jones, Polly 61 

.Tones, Rev. Ezra 70 

Joray, Samlh E 67 

Judd, Abagail 57 

Ju'dd, Abiaih (50 

Judd, Allice H 64 

Judd, Benj 144 

Judd, Betsy R 63 

Judd, Ohas 145, 152 

Judd, Clhloe 62 

Judd, Fanny 145 

Judd, Ira 145 

Judd, Jerome 5, 94, 145, 152 

Judd, Jerusha 59 

Judd, Jc^hn 100, 144 

Judd, Jonathan 144 

Judd, Lewis 38 

Judd, Mofct 94, 145, 152 

Judd, Mrs. Edward 65 

Judd, Nancy M. Howland 61 

Judd, Philip 

17, 18, 19, 20, 21. 24, 32, 57, 145 

Judd, Philip Jr 5\) 

Judd, Rev. Reuben 11, 144 

Judd, Russell 114 

Judd, Sir Andrew 144 

Judd, Thos 144, 145 

.Tudd, Wm 144 

Judd, Wm. M 64, 114 

Judd, 37 

Judson, Ebenezer 32 

Keelor, Lewis 33 

Keelor, MatthieiW 33 

Kellogg, Betsey 62 

Kellogg, Elisha S 40 

Keeny, Jo'hn 21 

Keney, Alexander 25 

Kidder, Almeda 61 

Killson, Value 79 

King, Oharlotte B 146 

King, Chas. Wesley 145. 146 

King, Idalaih Wheeler 145 

King, JoOin 153 



King, Louise M 146 

King, Mary L 146 

King, Orson 145 

King, Wheeiler B 146 

Kingsbury, Joseph 19, 20, 21 

Kingsley, Nathaniel 19, 20 

Kirk, Ohas. F 66, 71 

Kirk, Lillian Ruth Newton 66 

Kirk, Rev. Wm. H 70 

Knapp, John 17, 18, 21 

Kmapp, Miss A. W 70 

Knapp, ]\Ioses 35 

Knell, Mitchell 17, 18, 19, 20 

Lacy. Alonson 61 

Lacy, Eleazer 60 

Laid, James 19 

La Jue, Lumam 63 

Lake, Jobn 58 

Lake, Rogers 37 

Lampkin, Benj 36 

Lamson, Emelena B 64 

Lane, Adaline 66 

Lane, Adeline L 67 

Lane, Chas. Edw 139 

Lane, Clark P 138 

Lane, Clark P. ,Tr 139 

Lane, Daniel P 114 

Lane, Edith C 139 

Lane, Ed ward 138 

Lane, Edw. B 147 

Lane, Fred'k R 147 

La,ne, Geo. S 147 

Lane, Hannah Wolcott 138 

Lane, Hugli F 139 

Laine, .John S 44 

La.ne, Jolhn W 66 

La-ne, Julia M 147 

Lane, Leman S 38 

Lane, Leman G 44 

Lane, Martin B 97, 147 

Lane, Maud E 147 

Lane, RolJie G 139 

Lane, Sarah Ann Bieroe 65 

Lane, Willard M 147 

Lannigan, Samuel 57 

Lasell, Elizabeth 56 

Lasell, Joshua 56 

Tj'athrop, Jane 134 

Lathrop, M 24 

Lathrop, Mary 56 

Latbrop, Rev. Jobn 134 

Latham, Samuel 57 

Latteau, Samuel 24 

Lazel. Joshua 19, 20 

Lazel, James 19 

Lee, Almira 64 

Lee, Charles 97, 114 

Lee. Daniel 113 

Lee, Ida F 66 

Lee, Israel 32 

I^ee, John 44 

Lee, Mattie 66 

Lee, Rev. T. J 47 



170 



INDKX. 



Leoinard, Adele B. Willard 66 

Lreonard, Burton 66 

Leonard, Jerome 101 

Leonard, Lucy 60 

Leonard, Nelson 63 

Leonard, Silas 37 

Leonai'd, Susan 66 

Leonard, Wm. Russell 66 

Lewis, Mercy 56 

Lewis, Samnel 17, 18, 49, 56 

Lewis, Susan 65 

Lewis, Wm 65 

Lilly, Elisba 19, 20 

Lineberg, Oatherine 65 

Lineberg, Mary Janes 65 

Lineberg, Susan 65 

Lincoln, Ja/mes 32 

Loff, David 34, 36 

Lozer, Tlios 21 

Lyman, Caroline 66 

Lyman, Ebenezer 18, 49, 56 

Lyman, Lydia 56 

Lyn, James 32 

Lynds, Hebeckali 59 

Lyon, Amaziaih 21 

Lyon, David 32 

Maim, Jonathan 32 

Main, Caleb 59 

Main, Mrs. Caleb 59 

Maine, Phebe 60 

Ma.ireL Henry L. V 39, 44 

Mallory, Alonis'o '. . . . 94 

Mallory, Frederick 102, 114 

Mansfield, Maria 62 

Mansfield, Sally 60 

Marsh, Carrie J. Hatch 66 

Marslh, Cvrus 

19, 49, 50, 55, 56, 57, 58, 113 

Mars>h. Ebenezer 18, 19, 20, 21 

Marsh, Jo'hn 7 

Marsh, Mrs. Hannalh 58 

MarsTi, Palatiaih 20 

Marsh, ReT. Truman 68 

Mars.h, Wm 21 

Marshall, Daniel G 43 

Marshall, Ezra S 45 

Mars'hall, Ira 39. 45 

Mars'hall, Henry M 42 

Mars'hall. Polly 63 

Marvin, Uriah 32 

Masom, John 137. 152 

Maissay. .Jo'hn 25 

Mauwee. Eunice 63 

Mauwehu, Eunice 79 

Mauwehu, Gideon 73 

Mauwehu, .Joseph 78 

Mauwehu, Rachel 79, 80 

Mayhew, Oapten 76 

Mayhew, Jobe 76 

McXrdle, Fred'k 44 

McBirney, Geo. H 42 

McCabe. James 44 

McCoy, John 102 

McDoaigal, Rev. Howard 70 

McGariT, Patrick 94 



MciNab, Michael 45 

Mead, Neamiah 19, 20 

Merrit, Ephraim 101 

Merry, Benj 32 

Merry, Jolhn 57 

Merwin, Ezra M 47 

Merwin, Fred'k S 64 

iMillard, Anna 60 

Millard, Jo'hn 58 

Millard, Mrs. Jo^hn 58 

Millard, Rebeckah 58 

Millard, Rufus 61 

Millard. Mrs. Rufus 61 

Miiller, Dolly 61 

Miller, Etta Waldron 66 

Miller, Hubbell 114 

Mills, Abilene 59 

Mills, Bradley 62 

Mills, Catiheirinie 64 

Mills, Charlotte J 62 

Mills, Ohloe 62 

Mills, Edmund 58, 114 

Mills, Edmund H 64 

Mills, Florilla 60 

Mills, Francis J. 64 

Mills, Hannah 60, 61 

Mills, Hannah P 61 

Mills, Jane 56 

Mills, John 

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 30, 56, 62, 114 

Mills, Lemyra A. Swift 65 

Mills, Lewis 

26, 32, 34, 38, 58, 61, 62, 90, 113, 114 

Mills, Mrs. Lewis 58 

Mills, Margaret 58 

Mills, Mary Ann 62 

Mills. Mary C 63 

Mills, Mi-B 58 

Mills, Mrs. L. W 63 

Mills, Peter 35, 58 

Mills, Philo 30, 90 

Mills, Philo G 64, 114 

Mills, Rev. Edmund 55 

Mills, Rev. S 52 

Mills, Rhoda 60 

Mills, Samuel J 52, 54, 58 

Mills, Rev. Samuel J., 54 

Millspaugh, Mrs. Flora 94 

Millsp.aug*h, Petheul 114 

Miner, Jerusha 21 

Miner, Samuel 17, 18 

Minor, Josepih 30 

Mitchiell, Chais 45 

Mitchell, John 17, 18, 21, 22 

Mitchell, Knell 21 

Monroe, Jarin 43 

Monroe. Seth 101 

Morehouse, Austin 114 

M'orey, Elijah 58 

Morey, Harriet 64 

Morey, Stephen 37 

Morgan, Delight 61 

Morgan, Gideon 21 

Morgan, Jonathan Jr 17 



INDEX. 



171 



Morgan, Jo'iiathan Sr 

17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24 

Morgan, Mabeil 61 

Morris, Abigail 62 

Morris, David 32 

Morris, Garry 63 

Morris, Vesta 63 

Morriss, Thomas 20, 24, 57 

Morse, Stephen 149 

Mory, Lewis 42 

Moseley, Increase Jr 31 

Mosher, Alice B 67 

Mosher, Florence J 6'( 

Mosher, Henry T 67 

Mosiier, Joihn 59 

Moiss, Daniel 57 

Mudio, Rev. Howiard 55 

iMulldns, Mdc'hael 45 

Murplhy, Alfred 44 

Murphy, Alfred .T 64 

Murphy, Henry 42 

Murphy, Henry 2nd 43 

Murphy, Hiram 43 

Murray, Jeiheil 20, 57 

Murphy, Lewis 44 

Murphy, Lucy 66 

Murray, Mary 57 

Murray, Reuben 35 

Murphy, Wm. H 39, 46 

NiHiSh, Jonathan 33 

Negro, Rose 58 

Nettleton, T. F 46, 47, 64 

Newcomb, Benj 24, 57 

Newoomb, Hanmaih 56 

Newcomb, James 21 

Newooimb, Thomas 17, 18, 21, 22 

Newbon, Alice 66 

Newton, Carrie Hatch 67 

Newton, Frank L 66, 67 

Newton, Geo 66 

Newton, Jo'hn 97 

Newton, Jo'hn W 143 

Newton, Lillian 71 

Newton, Mary Ida King 67 

Newton, Mattre Aura 67 

Newton, Wm 101 

Nichols, Anson B 43 

NiohO'ls, Dorcas 62 

Nichols, Sam'l 33 

Noble, Thomas 81 

Nolles, Jonathan 24 

Nolles, Stephen 24 

Noney. Esther 63 

Noney, Mercy 62 

North, Salome 60 

Northrop, Amos 135 

Northrop, Aurelia 60 

Northrop, Rev. B. G 47, 55, 62. 135 

Northrup. Mrs. Chas 37, 130 

Norton, Barsheba 59 

Norton, Silas 59 

Oakland, John 37 

O'Conner, Micliiael 45 

Odell, Geo 44 

Odell, Myron 44 



Odell, Sally 63 

Odell, Wm. H 46 

Olmsted, David 32 

Orton, Harriet M 157 

Orton, Joihn 101 

Osborn, Elida 114 

Osborn, Temperance 64 

Osborne, 61 

Pack, Cybil 59 

Page, Clark 64, 114, 137 

Page, Daniel 40, 42 

Page, Geo. B 91 

Page, Geo. M 137 

Page, Helen J 64 

Page, Walter 100 

Page, Rev. Wm. W 55 

Paine, Daniel 58 

Paine, Joammaih 58 

Palmer, Rev. Solomon 67, 68 

Park, EJbenezer 24 

Parks, Joseph 21, 59 

Parks, Julia 60 

Parks, iMiargaret 59 

Paris, Stephen 24 

Parish, Asa 59 

Parish, Oliver 33 

Parish, Mrs. Asa 59 

Parish, Mindwell 57 

Parker, Joseph 21 

Parsels, Daniel A 156 

Parsels, Flora L 155 

Partridge, Elizabeth 150 

Pattersion, Emma Waldron 66 

Payn, John 59 

Payn, Mrs. Joibn 59 

Paji-ne, Florence Barton 66 

Payson, Grace W 65 

Payson, Rev. E. P 47, 55 

Peck, Abel 33 

Peck, Benjamin 56 

Peck, Bennoni 58 

Peck, Ebenezer 26, 56, 58 

Peck, Mrs. Ebenezer 58 

Peck, Josep'h 18, 32, 56 

Peck, Margaret 56 

Peck, Mrs 58. 61 

Peck, Ruth '. 57 

Peck, Sally 61 

Peck, Stephen 33 

Peck, Walston 41 

Peck, Wilbur 67 

Peck, 61 

Peet, Alansom 43 

Peet. Anna Hall 66 

Peet, Frank S 66 

Peet, John 142 

Peet, Lauren 43 

Peet, Mary Newton 67 

Peet, Mary S. Fuller Hi 

Peet, Samuel R 114, 142, 143 

Peet, Wm. H 64 

Pender, Fred'k W 46 

Pennell, Isaac 34, o3 

Perry, Ann Jane 62 



172 



INDEX. 



Perry, Oharliotte 62 

Perry, Elisha 23 

Perry, Mrs : 62 

Perry, Nathaniel P 38, 62, 113, 114 

Peters, Eber S 99 

Peters, J. H 99 

Phillips, Jeninie Clark 67 

Pierce, Timothy 15, 16 

Piper, Bmeline 64 

Piatt, Epenetus 134 

Piatt, Eudo^ra Sarles 66 

Piatt, Jephania 134 

Piatt, Jonas 134 

Piatt, Richard 134 

Porter, Benj 33 

Porter, Elsie Crane 66 

Porter, John 17, 18, 21 

Porter, Rev. Elbert S 47,' 55 

Porter, Rev. Elbert S. Jr 66 

Post, Ida Woloott 65 

Potter, Elisba 94, 95, 141 

Potter, Elmer A 141 

Potter, Oliver 39, 45 

Potter, Simon .' 4f, 

PO'Uslett, Louis 44 

Pratt, Ann Aurillia 62 

Pratt, Azariah 18, 24, 49, 56, 58 

Pratt, Birdsey G 98 

Pratt, Daniel 19 20 21 

Pratt, Editha ' 57 

Peter, Franz 45 

Pratt, Hannah 56, 58, 134 

Pratt, Hopsom 38,' 11.?', 114 

Pratt, Jesse '. 24 

Pratt, Joisepih 134 

Pratt, Joseph H 46, 57, 58, 113 

Pratt, Joseph Jr 21, 26, 30, 39 

Pratt, Mrs. Sarah 58, 59 

Pr'att, Orinda N 64 

Pratt, Patty W 62 

Pratt, Peter 21, 30, 58, 59, 62, 113 

Pratt, Peter Jr 6I 

Pratt, Ralph 65 

Pratt, Ruth 5S 

Pratt, Saralh 62, 134 

Pratt, Sherman '. 60 

Pratt, Sophie 62 

Preston, Wm 30 

Punderson, Rev. Dr. Thos 135 

Putnam, Luke 1 114 

Quain, Francis 45 

Ramson, Joihn 113 

Ranch, Christilan Henry 7] 

Randall, Wealthy 61 

Randoil. Mary 62 

Randol, Walter 62 

Ransom, Bethiaih 56 

Ransom. John 18, 24, 35, 51, 58 

Ransom, Joihn Sr 57 

Ransom, Rebecoa 58 

Ransom, Robert 59 

Raymond, Abram 24, 56 

Raymond, Abraham Jr '58 

Raymond, Dr 102 



Raymond, Hannalh 62 

Raymond, Jeremiaih Due 59 

Raymoind, John 38, 59, 61 

Raymond, John M 60, 70, 114 

Raymond, Joshua 33 

Raymond, Mercy 56, 58 

Raymond, Mira Ann 60 

Raymond, Newoomb 33, 37 

Reed, Eveline 66 

Reed, Hezekiah 59 

Reed, Martha 59 

Reed, Phebe 59 

Reeves, M>ary 133 

Reid, Cornelia S 65 

Reynolds, Wm. H 45 

Reynolds, Rev. Wm 69 

Rice, Mrs. Esau 58 

Rice, Sophia 64 

Richey, Rev. Albrom 70 

Rigmey, Rev. M. F 154 

Rlly, Lucretia 65 

Ripley, David 19, 20 

Roach, Joihn 45 

Road, Lestei' 21 

Roberts, Albert 90 

Roberts, Eliza 63 

Roiberts, Helen M 64 

Roberts, John 18, 19 

Roberts, John L 83, 114 

Roberts, Julia Barker 66 

Roberts, Mary 56 

Roberts, Nathaniel 24, 56 

Ro'berts, Reibekalh 56 

Roberts, Sarah 57 

Roberts, Susan M 67 

Roiberts, Wm 56 

Robinson, Almira 66 

Robinson, James 150 

Robinson, Patiemce R 150 

Rockweai, Noah 17, 18, 21 

P^ockwell, Silas 33 

Rockwell, Wm 33 

Rodg-ers, David H 158 

Rodgers, Jotoin 43 

Root, Gideon 57 

Root, Ira 61 

Root, Lura Ann 63 

Root, Mrs 58 

Root, Sally .^ 61 

Roots, Mrs. L^is 61 

Roraback, Hetoi 67 

Roraback, PoIlyVAnn 65 

Rowley, Abagail \ 57 

Rowley, Jabez . . . \ 57 

Rowley, Jonathan .\ 57, 58 

Rowley. Mrs. Joniatih\ 

Rowley, iMary /T. 57 

Rowley, Mehitalble >/ 134 

Rowley, Moses . .£. 24, 25 

Rowley, Seth . . "'. 34, 36 

Rowley, Tabitha 57 

Rowley, Thos. .^ 20 

Rudd, .Tonathan 19, 20 

Russell, Ohas. L 38 



inde:;^;. 



173 



Rust, Levy 33 

Rust, Mrs 61 

Rust, Simeon 58 

Rust, Mrs. Simeon 58 

Ryan, Flora Roraback 67 

Sackett, Alexander 32 

Slacketlt, Benj 38 

Sackett, Capt. Justus 113 

Sackett, Reuben 35 

Saltenstall, Gurdon 31 

Sanford, Elizabetli 56 

Sanford, Nathaniel 18, 19, 56 

Siarles. Laura Page 65 

Sawyer, Allen 42 

Sawyer, Orville R 43 

Saxton, Hannaih 134 

Schermerhorn, Edward 99 

Schroder, Rev. Mr 69 

Soo*t, Elias 46 

Soott, Mortimer H 46 

Scudder, Ev'arts 54, 55 

Scudder, Sarah Lamson 64 

Sealy, Ebeinezer 57 

Sealy, Elizabeth 57 

Seely, .Tofhn 17, 18, 21 

Seg-ar, Edith 67 

Segar, Hermian 114 

Segar, Rebekah 56 

Seger, George L 158 

Segei', Hiram 158 

Seger, Ira 158 

Seger, Josepih 37 

Segur, Chas. H 42 

Serrill, Maria 62 

Seymour, Arthur 44 

Seymour, Ira 114 

Seymour, Moses 34 

Sheehan, Rev. M 154 

Sheridan, Fr. Wm. O'R 154 

Sherman, Abilal 59 

Sherman, Ettie M 154 

Sherman, David 77 

Shew, Hannalh 64 

Silliman, Robt 26, 49, 50 

Silsby, Henry 19 

Silsby, Joih'n 57 

Silsby. Samuel 20 

Simons, Enoch 33 

Skeal. Samuel 24 

Skeel, Lydia 57 

Skeel, Prudence (Slosson) 57 

Skeeles, Thomias ... 17, 18, 21, 22, 57 

Skeels, Abigail Slosson 57 

Skiff, Abigail 133 

Skiff, Benj 58 

Skiff, Delia 133 

Skiff. Dr. Charles 134 

Skiff, Edward 133 

Skiff, Eliiah 133 

Skiff. Esther 59 

Skiff. Flora 62 

Skiff, Giles 133 

Skiff, Geo. A 40 

Skiff, Geo. R 42 



Skiff, Hannah J 133 

Skiff, Harriet 133 

Skiff, Helen 133 

Skiff, Heman 133 

Skiff, Hopson P 63 

Skiff, .Tames 133 

Skiff, Jeremiiaih 59 

Skiff, Josepih 20, 114 

Skiff, Josia'h 19 

Skiff, Julius 13s 

Skiff, Luther 133 

Skiff, Margaret 133 

Skiff, Mary Ann 133 

Skiff, Mira 133 

Skiff, Moses 133 

Skiff, Nathan 32, 132 133 

Skiff, Nathan Jr 133 

Skiff, Dr. Paul C 132, 133 

Skiff, Pauline 135 

Skiff, Peter 114. 133 

Skiff, Polly 60 

Skiff, Samuel A 133 

Skiff, Stephen 32, 59 133 

Skiff, Mrs. Stepben 59 

Skiff, Thankful 133 

Slade, As'a 62, 102 

Slade, Oharilntte .' . 63 

Slade, Susian 62 

Slawson, Deilivertance 33 

Sloper, Nathan 33 

Slosson, Abagail 60 

Slosson, Alice Catherttne 64 

Slosson, Anna T ■ 65 

Slosson, Betsey 60 

Slosson, Borziilai 113 

Slosso-n, Catherine 63 

Slosson, David 58 

Slosson, Elizabeth 60, 151, 152 

Slosson, Enoch 57, 58 

Slosson, F^-ank S .151 

Slossons. Hannah 63, 151 

Slosson, John ' . 151 

Slosson, John W 65, 90 

Slosson, Margaret 56, 63, 151 

Slosson, Mary 61, 151 

Slosson, Mlary 'Hatch .' . 64 

Slosison, Mrs 58 

Slosson, Nathan Sr 60, 151 

Slosson. Nathan Jr 60, 114, 151 

Slosson, Nathaniel 

17, 18, 19. 21, 23, 24, 28, 56, 90, 151 

Slosson, Sarah 57 

Slosson, Wm. Jr 151 

Slosson. Wm. B 151 

Small, Jesse 25 

Smart, Christina 145 

Smith, Almira L 62 

Smith, Amelia F 63 

Smith, Arthur W 67 

Smith, Asa 59 

Smith, Mrs. Asa 59 

Smith, Azariah 33 

Smith, Betsey 61 

Smith, Cassandana 63 



174 



INDEX. 



Smith, Charlotte B 64 

Smith, Chas. S 65, 114, 146 

Smith, Chauncey 32 

Smith, Clara W 153 

Smith, David 19, 20 

Smith, Desire 59 

Smith, Edward 63 

Smith, Edward J 67 

Smith, Elias 59 

Smith, Elizabeth S 64 

Smith, Ella C 65 

Smith, Elmore 63 

Smith, Ely 33 

Smith, Flora A 142 

Smi'tlh, Flora E 137 

Smith, Harriet 63 

Smith, Harvey 60, 141, 142 

Smith, Henry C 64 

Smith, Jaibez 77 

Smith, John 17, 18, 20, 21. 60, 68 

Smith, Julia E 141 

Smith, Leander 63 

Smith, Mrs. Leander 63 

Smith, Marcus 63 

Smith, Margaret F 64 

Smith, Marvin 60 

Smith. Niathaniel 20 

Smith, Noialh 59 

Smith, Mrs. Noah 59 

Smith, Orange 46 

Smith. Orpha J 63 

Smith, Renlben 60, 63 

Smith, Rev. Walter 55 

Smith, Richard 86 

Smith, Sabm 61 

Smith, Stephen 153 

Smith, Timothy St. Joihn 63 

Smith, Wm. C 67 

Smith. Wm. R 65 

Smith, Mrs. Wm. R 65 

Snedeker, Stephen 43 

Snedieker, Uriah F 40, 43 

Snow, Julius 67 

Snow, Mrs. Julius 67 

Sokenoge, Jolhm 76 

Somers. Daniel T 43 

Soule, Cora Newton 66 

Soule, Ijouise Line^berg 67 



Spears, Betsey 
Spears. Rev. A. G. 



60 
70 



Spooner, Chias 65 

Spoonier, Cihas. L,.. . 55. 56, 101, 114. 150 

Spooner, Clifford C 150 

Spooner, Cornelia 62 

Spooner, Ebenezer 150 

Spooner, Edna A 65 

Spooner, Ha.nna'h 61 

Spooiner, Henry 97 

Spooner, Ja.ne 62 

Spoomer, Jo^hm 63. 101, 114, 150 

Spooner, Julia. E 64 

Spooner, Lewis 49. 60. 64, 150 

Spooner, Lew's G 67. 71, 150 

Spooner, Lewis S 150 



Spooner, Maria 62 

Spoo.ner, Nat'l 33 

Spooner, Phoebe 64 

Spooner, Rachel 57 

Spoomer, Rachel Noble 150 

Spooner, Rebecca 60, 150 

Spoo'ner, Ruth 62 

Spooner, SaHly 62 

Spooner, Wm. ... 24, 26, 57, 61, 65, 149 

Spooner, Wm. Henry 150 

Spooner, Wm. S 150 

Sprague, Asa 36 

Sprague, Benj 32 

Sprague, Eunice 59 

Sprague, Homer B 40 

Sprague, James 37 

Sprague, Martha Lane 67 

Stalker, Grace 58 

Standard, Henry 38 

Standish, Capt. Miles 134 

Stanley, Jo'hn 7 

Stanley, Wm 45 

Stainton, Widow 59 

Starkweather, Steiphen 25 

Starr, Josiah 17, 18, 19, 21 

Stephens, Hen/i-y 76 

Sterling, Rev. Mr 63 

Sterry, Ferdinand 67 

Sterry, Geo. L 41 

Sterry, Henry 42 

Sterry, Harry 67 

SteiTy, Harvey 44 

Sterry, Myron R 41 

Stevens, Minot 94 

Stevens, Thos 32 

Stevenson. Fred'k 44 

Stewart, Eiona 56 

Stte-wart, Je.an 24 

Stewart. Jerusha 60 

Stewart, Mrs. M. L 87 

St. John, Ainna 58 

St. Joihn, Aurelia 61 

St. Jo'hn, Austin 114 

St. John, Dolly 64 

St. Joihn, Edith R 67 

St. Joihn, Elizabeth 63 

St. John, Jesse 114 

St. John. Joihn T 64 

St. John, Lewis 43. 68 

St. .Toihn, Mattie 67 

St. John, Oliver S 63 

St. John, Rutto 60, 62 

St. Jothn, Siana'h E. Gibbs 66 

St. Joihn, Timothy 58 

Stiocfcwell, Hannah 57 

Stoddard, Curtis 33 

Stone, Betsey 61 

Stome, Charles 94 

Stone, Daniel 37 

Stone, FaircMld W 65 

Sitone, Hannah 59 

Stone, Hiram 61, 65 

Stone. Laura 63, 64 

Stone, Leoville 59 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



57 



1744. 
Isaac Benton, 
Ruth Benton, 
John Merry, 
Mary Rowley, 
Joseph Pratt, 
Editha Pratt, 
Elizabeth Lasell, 
Phebe Hatch. 

1745. 
Joshiah Thomas, 
Abigail, wife of Jabez Swift, 
Mary Thomas, 
Anne Thomas. 

1746. 
Jabez Rowley, 
Tabitha Rowley, 
Jemima Barnum. 

1747. 
Jonathan Rowley, 
Abigail Rowley. 



1748. 
Martha Hatch. 

1749. 
Thomas Woodward, 
Joanna Woodward, 
Lydia Skeel, 
John Silsby. 

1750. 
Mary, wife of Jehiel Murrey, 
Gideon Root, 
Daniel Church and his wife. 

1751. 
Samuel Waller and Joanna his wife. 

1752. 
Elisabeth, wife of Ebenezer Sealy, 
Rachel, wife of William Spooner. 

1754. 
Nehemiah Sturtevant and Fear 
his wife. 



The following is a list of those admitted to special ordinance by Cyrus 
Marsh, pastor: 



1741. 
Patience Washburn, 
Benjamin Hambleton, 
Abel Comstock. 

1742. 
Ruth Peck, 
John Beeby, 
Andi-ew Algur, 
Mehitable Hubble, 
Jehiel Barnum, 
Samuel Latham, 
Philip Judd, 
Abagail Judd, 
Thomas Skeel, 
Prudence Skeel (Slosson). 

1745. 
Barnabas Hatch, 
Samuel Hubble, 
Ruth Hubble. 

1747. 
Jethro Hatch, 



Thomas Morris, 
Mary Barnum. 

1748. 
Gershon Comstock, 
Grace Cahoon. 

1749. 
Hannah Stockwill, 
Elizabeth Barnum, 
Benjamin Newcomb, 
Mindwell Parish. 

1750. 
Sarah Roberts. 

1751. 
James Walling, 
Daniel Moss and his wife. 

1753. 
Jonathan Berry, 
John Beebe, Jr. 

1754. 
Joseph Berry. 



An account of those admitted to ordinances in ye church of Christ at 
Kent, by Joel Bordwell, pastor: 



1758. 
Zeruiah Thankful and Ruth. 
Peleg Chamberlain, 



Widow Abigail Slosson Skeels, 
Sarah, wife of Enoch Slosson, 
John Ransom, Sr., 



58 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Elijah Morey and his wife, 
The wife of Eli Thomson, 
Jabez Swift, Sr. 

1760. 
Elias Church, 
Sarah, wife of Jira Swift, 
Mr. Cyrus Marsh, 
The wife of Esau Rice. 

1761. 
The Widow Berry, 
Enoch Slosson, 
Mrs. Bordwell, wife of Rev, Mr. 

Bordwell, 
The wife of Israel Warner. 

1762. 
Peter Mills and his wife, 
Susan Slosson Hamilton, 
Bennoni Peck's wife, 
David Slosson's wife. 

1763. 
Lewis Mills and his wife, 
Rose Negro, 
Nathaniel Berry's wife, 
Benjamin Eaton, 
John Williams. 

1764. 
Peleg Chamberlain's wife, 
Bbenezer Peck's wife, 
Jonathan Rowley's wife. 

1765. 
Samuel Mills, 

Simeon Rust and his wife, 
Mrs. Fuller. 

1766. 
Job Swift, 
Mr. Root's wife. 
Peleg Chamberlain and wife. 

1767. 
Lieut. Benjamin Skiff, 
AbraJham Fuller and Lydia his wife, 
Eliphalet Comstock and Sarah his wife 

1768. 
Rachael, wife of Samuel Bates, 
Capt. Joseph Pratt and Hannah his 

wife, 
Barnabas Bates and his wife, 
Mr. Peter Pratt and his wife, 
Widow Hannah Tanner, 
Elias Church. 



1769. 
John Millard and his wife, 
Thomas Hatch and his wife, 
Anna, wife of Timothy St. John, 
Daniel Paine and Joannah his wife. 

1770. 
Mrs. Hannah Marsh, 
J. Stuart and his wife, 
Daniel Wrexford, 
Rhoda Gillett. 

1771. 
Israel Carter and Jerusha his wife, 
Joshiah Curtis and his wife. 

1772. 
Grace Stalker, 
Sara, wife of Lieut. James Stuart. 

1773. 
Daniel Beebe and Esther his wife. 

1774. 
Bphraim Hubble, Esq., 
Timothy Gray, 

Jonathan Carver and his wife, 
Elizabeth Walter, 
Mr. Seth Swift. 

1775. 
Alice Hubbel, 
Nathan Stuart, 
John Lake, 
wife of John Millard, Sr. 

1776. 
Alice Fuller, 
Rachael Comstock, 
Widow Rebeckah Millard, 
Ruth, wife of Azariah Pratt, 
Rebecca, wife of John Ransom, 
Widow Anna Thomas. 

1778. 
Mr. james Hatch, 
Mr. Edmund Mills, 
Widow Hannah Haymond, 
Margaret Mills, 
Rachel Baldwin. 

1779. 

*Abigail Con' , 

Thomas Bates, 
Adah Bates, 

Abraham Raymond, Jr., 
Mercy Raymond, 



* Name illegible in Record. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



59 



Eliazar Chamberlain, 
Samuel Beecher and his wife. 
Robert Ransom, 

1780. 
Mrs. Waterman. 
Jerusha Judd, 
Noah Smith and his wife, 
Philip Judd, Jr. 

1783. 
John Hosier, 
Eunice Sprague, 

Deacon Josiah Caswell and his wife, 
Ebenezer Bamum's wife, 
Cybil Pack, 

Steven Skiff and his wife, 
Joseph Bates and his wife, 
Martha Reed. 

1784. 
Tim Hatch, 
Benajah Fuller's wife, 
Abram Beecher and his wife, 
Luke Stuart, 

Leoville Stone's wife Hannah, 
Dr. Oliver Fuller and his wife, 
Lois Coleman, 
Aaron Coleman, 
Abijah Comstock, 
Rachael Comstock, 
Ezbon Hubbel, 

Anna, wife of Amos Barnum, 
Widow Betts. 

1785. 
Silas Norton and his wife Barsheba, 
Hezekiah Reed and his wife Phebe, 
Silas Stuart's wife. 

1786. 
Ezra Geer's wife, 
Mr. Holt's wife. 

1790. 
Ephraim Fuller's wife Rebeckah, 
Samuel Fairchild's wife Abigal, 
Julius Caswell and his wife Anna, 
Samuel Hubbell's wife Mehittable, 
Jeremiah Puller's wife Ruth, 
Rebeckah Lynds. 

1791. 
Ebenezer Berry and his wife Ruth, 
John Payn's wife, 
Hannah Berry, 
Elias Smith and his wife Desire. 



1792. 
Widow Stanton, 
Asa Parish's wife Sara, 
Caleb Main's wife. 

1793. 
Daniel Thomson's wife Lydia, 
Samuel Chamberlain and his wife 

Cybil, 
Noah Smith, 

Peter Pratt's wife, Sarah Day, 
John Raymond's wife, Zeruiah Due, 
Abilene Mills, 
Jane Bordwell. 

1794. 
Calvin Dodge, 
Clark Hatch and his wife. 

1795. 
Ephraim Beardsley and his wife 

Martha, 
Lydia Day, wife of Abraham Beech- 
er, Jr., 
Cyrenus Clark's wife Rhoda, 
Gershom Comstock's wife Lydia. 

1796. 
Mr. Elwell's wife Rebeckah. 

1800. 
Nathan Chamberlain. 
Ozias Buell and his wife Abagail, 
Ethiel Carter and his wife Lucy, 
John Bates and his wife Villilitty, 
Nathaniel Bates, 
Louisa Webber, 
Margaret Campbell, 
Phebe Reed, 

Nathaniel Chamberlain's wife Jerusha, 
David Bradley and his wife, 
Eliezer Thomson, 
Abilal Sherman, 
Moses Eaton and his wife, 
Mr. Parks, 
Margaret Parks, 
Zachariah Bradley, 
Gamaliel Fenn and his wife Lois, 
Jeremiah Skiff's wife Esther, 
Widow Hepsibah Skiff, 
Asa Smith's wife. 

1801. 
Widow Eleanor Brown, 
David Geer, 
Cynthia Geer, 



6o 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Margaret Geer, 

Amos Barnuin's wife Sarah. 

1802. 
Patience Dye. 

1803. 
Jeremiah Fuller. 

1804. 
Mr. Straight's wife. 

1805. 
Nancy Berry, 
Anah Agard. 

1806. 
Gardiner Dodge and his wife, 
Daniel M. Comstock's wife, 
Capt. Revillo Fuller's wife. 



Daniel M. Comstock, 
Betsiey Hurd. 

i807. 
Elisabeth Slosson, 
Nathan Slosson, Sr., 
Nathan Slosson, Jr., 
Dr. Oliver Fuller and his wife, 
Aurelia Northrop, 
Betsey Slosson, 
Anna Slosson Delano. 

1808. 
Lavinia Bordwell, 
Ebenezer Falker, 
Jeirusha Stewart. 

1809. 
Rebecca Spooner. 



Record is incomplete previous to 1812, and there is no means by which 
the manner of removal from the church can be ascertained. 



1812. 
Anna Caswell, 
Joseph Eaton, 
Abijah Berry, 
Harvey Smith, 
Marvin Smith, 
John Smith, 
Reuben Smith, 
Barnabas Hatch, 
Eleazer Lacy, 
Sherman Pratt, 
Lewis Spooner, 
John Ransom Fuller, 
John M. Raymond, 
Ephraim Fuller, 
Mira Ann Raymond, 
Abagail Slosson, 
Bemis Fuller, 
Betsey Comstock, 
Phebe Eaton, 
Florilla Mills, 
Abiah Judd, 
Ruth St. John, 
Rhoda Mills, 
Anna Douglas, 
Salome North, 
Sally Buell, 
Polly Skiff, 
Anna Millard, 
Dorcas Underwood, 
Julia Parks, 



Loisa Fuller, 
Sally Comstock, 
Rachel Eaton, 
Hannah Mills, 
Sally Mansfield, 
Mary Bordwell, 
Lovina Jennings, 
Fear Hubble. 

1813. 
Polly Bordwell, 
Mrs. Crane, 
Diadema Berry. 
Sally Hawley, 
Phebe Maine. 

1814. 
Thalia Beardsley, 
Betsy Spears, 
Sophia Fuller Stone, 
Polly Hatch, 
Fanny Botsford, 
Betsy Crane, 
Almira Hatch, 
Joseph Crane, 
Samuel Bordwell, 
Louis Bull, 
Thankful Berry, 
Lodemia Swift, 
Polly Frink, 
Lucy Leonard, 
Mary Stone. 



HISTORY OF. KENT. 



6i 



lol5. 
Salmon Douglas. 

1816. 
Mrs. Pullets, 
William Bierce, 
Ruth. Comstock, 
Disa Brown, 
Electa Bradshaw, 
Betsy Hall, 
Dorcas Carter, 
Peggy Brown, 
Aurelia St. John, 
Adaline Fuller, 
Betsy Hatch, 
Sally Brown, 
Anna Brown, 
Polly Jones, 
Sabra Smith, 
Hannah Fenn, 
Hannah P. Mills, 
Pataline Hall, 
Cynthia Bates, 
Sally Hill, 
Harriet Sturtevant, 
Almeda Kidder, 
Anson Comstock, 
Jesse Bradshaw, 
Zalmon Hubbell, 
William Spooner, 
Hiram Dunham, 
Luman Jones, 
Arvin Brown, 
Reuben Bates, 
Joseph C. Cass, 
Peter Pratt, Jr., 
Ira Root, 

Erastus Chamberlain, 
Russel Stone, 
William Brown, 
Esther Chamberlain, 
Rachel Hubbell, 
Alma Agard, 
Sally Root, 
Sally Peck, 

Peck, 

Abby Dewey, 
Julia Fuller, 
Michael Jackson, 
Stephen Gregory, 
Mrs. Stephen Gregory, 
Elizabeth Gregory, 



Daniel Johnson, 
Alanson Lacy, 
Widow Wilson, 
Polly Davidson, 
Mrs. Rust, 
Delight Morgan, 
Camp Hatch, 
Orville Hatch. 

1817. 
Lewis Mills, 
Hannah Mills, 
Widow Chamberlain, 
Wealthy Randal, 
Dolly Miller, 
Betsy Smith. 

1819. 

— Osborne, 

Mabel Morgan, 
Ira Swift, 
Grace Swift, 
Mrs. Gilbert. 

1821. 
Mary Slosson, 
David Gilbert, 
Hannah Spooner, 
Mrs. Peck, 
Mrs. Hawley, 
Caroline Camp, 
Rebecca Elwell, 
Dr. Samuel Chittendon, 
Lavinia Chittendon, 
Eli Chamberlain, 
Chloe Chamberlain, 
Sylvester Hawley, 
Mrs. Clemens, 
Isaac Chamberlain, 
Luania Williams, 
Dr. John Raymond, 
Rufus Millard, 
Revillo Fuller, 
John Gilbert, 
Mrs. Rufus Millard, 
Mrs. Lewis Roots, 
Susan Edwards. 

1822. 
James Fuller, 
Jehiel Berry, 
Hiram Stone, 
Mary J. Church, 
Betsy Stone, 



62 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Mrs. Russell Stone, 
Chloe Judd, 
Marjory Beardsley. 

1823. 
Bradley Mills, 
Peter Pratt, 
Mary Ann Stone. 

1824. 
Salby Beebe, 
Sai-ah Blackney, 
Mary Ann Mills, 
Charlotte J. Mills, 
Maria Mansfield, 
Chloe Mills. 

1825. 
Eliza Hickok. 

1826. 
Maria Serrill, 

Truman Hawley and his wife, 
Mehitable Hawley, 
Mary Hopper, alias Miller, 
Mrs. Hannah Bates. 

1827. 
Catharine Beecher, 
Sylvia Geer, 
Maria Spooner, 
Sophie Pratt, 
Sarah Pratt, 
Mary Beach, 
Flora Skiff, 
Lockwood Carey, 
Ruth D. St. John, 
Ruby Ann Dewy, 
Cynthia Geer. 

1828. 
Mrs. Perry, 
Susan Slade, 
Maria Gilbert, 
Sally Spooner. 

1829. 
Julia Bull. 

1831. 
Lucretia Almira Adams, 
Nathaniel P. Perry, 
William Erwin, 
Walter Randol, 
Asa Slade, 
Lewis M. Mills, 
Ashbel Fxiller, 



Birdsey G. Northrop, 

Northrop Hall, 

Dolly Fuller, 

Mary Randol, 

Ann Aurillia Pratt, 

Ann Jane Perry, 

Editha Hatch, 

Cornelia Spooner, 

Fanna Hatch, 

Jane Spooner, 

Mercy Noney, 

Charlotte Perry, 

Mary Hatch, 

Flora Ann Smith Edwards (Charles), 

Emili Bradshaw, 

Hannah Raymond, 

Nancy Beach, 

Almira L. Smith, 

Ruth. Ann Berry, 

Lavinia Carter. 

1832. 
John Mills, 
Chancey Beardsley, 
David Comstock, 2d, 
Mrs. Juanna Beardsley, 
Caroline Comstock, 
Betsy Kellogg, 
Chloe Winegar, 
Dorcas Nichols, 
Ruth Spooner, 
Amelia Gilbert, 
Lucy Hawley, 
Clara Freeman, 
Catherine Hall, 
Irena Jennett Beardsley, 
Jerusha Sturtevant, 
Patty W. Pratt. 

1833. 
Mrs. L, Erwin, 
Anna L. Geer. 

1834. 
Caroline D. Taylor. 

1835. 
Matthew S. Barnum, 
Julia Barnum, 
Mary Ann Andrews, 
Abagail Morris. 

1836. 
Abby Stuart, 
Caroline Hoag, 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Mary C. Mills, 

Widow Sarah Converse. 

1837. 
Samuel Wildman Stone, 
Laura Stone, 
Garry Morris, 
Vesta Morris, 
Amelia F. Smith, 
Margaret Slosson, 
Mrs. Allen Gilbert. 
1838. 
Dorcas Carter, 
Elizabeth St. John, 
Marcus Smith, 
Timothy St. John Smith, 
Orlo Carter, 
Hopson P. Skiff, 
Marshall C. Gibbs, 
Lucinda Hatch, 
Abagail Hatch, 
Betsy Carter, 
Mills Bo-rdwell, 
Samuel C. Conn, 
Luman La Jue, 
Jesse Fuller, 
Luna Hopkins, 
Melissa Youngs, 
Elizabeth Barker, 
Lura Ann Root, 
Polly Marshall, 

Esther Noney, 

Sarah E. Gibbs. 

1839. 

John C. Berry, 

Ann Berry, 

John O. Blythe, 

Oliver S. St. John, 

Zelia Chamberlain, 

Rebecca Stone, 

Mrs. George W. Bull, 

George W. Bull, 

John Spooner, 

Mills Bordwell, 2d., 

Mrs. Bailey, 

Harriet Bates, 

Mrs. Russell Stone, 

Olive C. Fuller, 

Jane Chambers, 

Luman P. Bissell, 

Harriet Smith, 



1844. 
Henrietta F. Butcher, 
Nancy Stone, 
Cassandana Smith, 
Edward Smith, 
Sally Odell, 
David Comstock, 
Betsy R. Judd, 
Leander Smith, 
Ann R. Fuller, 

Eunice Mauwee (Last of the Pequots), 
Nelson Leonard. 

1847. 
Hannah Slosson, 
Catharine Slosson, 
Maria Fuller, 
John M. Fuller, 
Emily M. Fuller, 
David N. Puller, 
Luther C. Fuller, 
Rufus Fuller, 
Charlotte P. Slade. 
1848. 
Eliza Roberts, 
Allen Gilbert, 
Caroline Gilbert, 
Levi W. Stone, 
Lucy Stone, 
Reuben Smith, 
Maria Bartram, 

Abraham Fuller, 

Jeremiah Fuller, 

Mary Catharine Fuller, 

Olive Fuller, 

Mrs. Luman P. Bissell, 

Mrs. Lemuel B. Bull. 
1849. 

Reuben M. Gibbs, 

Catharine Gibbs. 
1850. 

Caroline Fuller, 

Mrs. Leander Smith. 
1851. 

Mrs. L. W. Mills. 
1852. 

Mrs. Levi Stone, 

Elmore Smith, 

Orpha J. Smith, 

Rhoda Gibbs, 



64 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Lavinia Puller, 

Julia Hatch. 

1854. 

Laura Stone, 

Hannah J. Shew, 

Francis A. Gilbert, 

Charlotte B. Smith, 

Henry C. Smith, 

Flora Jane Hunter. 
1856. 

Lewis Spooner, 

Phoebe Tyler, 

Jeanette Conn, 

Harriet Morey, 

Cornelia A. Bristol, 

Alice Catharine Slosson, 

Frederick S. Merwin, 

Mrs. Jeremiah Fuller. 
1857. 

Saphronia E. Eaton (Luther). 

Temperance Osborn, 

Sophia Rice, 

Margaret B. Fuller. 

1858. 
Luther Eaton, 
Sophia P. Berry, 
George B. Hall, 
David B. Fuller, 
Jerusha Fuller, 

Mary Sophia Fuller Peet (William), 
John T. St. John, 
Dolly St. John, 
Jay Cogshall, 
Mary Louisa Cogshall, 
Newton Carter, 
Sarah Maria Chamberlain, 
David Vincent, 
Helen Vincent, 
Frederick H. Gilbert, 
Frederick M. Berry, 
Heary F. Davis, 
Philo G. Mills, 
Tillotson Gibbs, 
Eunice Gibbs, 
William M. Judd, 
Alice H. Judd, 
Catherine Mills, 
Francis J. Mills, 
Julia R. Hall, 
Mary J. Carter, 



Lucy J. Carter, 

Lucy Hall, 

Sarah F. Hall, 

Alfred J. Murphy, 

Helen M. Roberts (Albert). 

1859. 
Margaret F. Smith, 
Elizabeth S. Smith, 
James Barker, 
Polly Barker, 
Edmund H. Mills, 
Nathan Bates Chamberlain, 
Almira Lee, 

Mary Ann Chambei'lain, 
Sarah Jane Bamum, 
Emily Diadama Beecher. 

1860. 
Sarah Lamson Scudder, 
Elmore Barton, 
Sarah E. Barton (Elmore), 
Nancy M. Howland Judd (G. L.), 
Catharine Johnson, 
William H. Peet. 

1861. 
Julia E. Spooner, 
Sabra Gilbert. 

1862. 
Isaac Fuller Nettleton. 

1863. 
Mary Hoag, 
Phoebe Spooner. 

1864. 
Charlotte Francis Walling. 
Maria Louisa Walling, 
Julia Barnum, 
Emeline Piper, 
Mary G. Conn (Samuel C). 

1865. 
Mary Hatch Slosson, 
Clark Page, 

Helen J. Page (Clark), 
William Fuller. 

1866. 
Jerome Berry, 
Caroline Berry, 
Emilena B. Lamson, 
Sarah Pratt Fletcher, 
Orinda N. Pratt, 
Sophia R. Judd Eaton, 



V 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



65 



Mary Grant, 
Charles Spooner, 
William Spooner. 
1867. 
Elisabeth W. Brown, 
Sarah J. Bissell, 
J. E. Howland, 
Jerusha A. Carter, 
Lavinia B. Carter, 
Mary A. Carter, 

Cornelia S. Reid. 
1868. 

Charles Barton, 

Mrs. Charles Barton, 

Florilla Barton, 

James Stuart, 

William R. Smith, 

Mrs. William R. Smith, 

Mary Jane Waldron, 

Grace W. Payson, 

William Lewis, 

Susan Lewis, 

Polly Ann Roraback (George), 

Jjois Ann Beecher, 

Charles S. Smith, 

Theodore Thomas, 

Laura Page Sarles (William), 

Marcus Freeman, 

Elias Waldron, 

Julia Waldron (Elias), 

Lucretia Riley, 

Cornelius Bolton, 

John Hopson, 

Rebecca Jane Hopson (John), 

John Hopson, Jr., 

Ellen C. Fuller, 

George W. Walling. 

1869. 
John W. Slosson, 
Anna T. Slosson (John), 
Emma Hungerford, 
Lois Bull, 
Aritta S. Bull, 
Martha Richards, 
Eliza Frear, 
Lucy Frear Fowler, 
Mary Candee, 
Lydia A. Fuller, 
Fairchild W. Stone, 
Mary Stone (F. W.), 
Fannie E. Vradenburg. 



1870. 
Harriet Barker (James), 
Emma Barker, 

Mary Janes Lineberg (Edward), 
Catherine Lineberg, 
Susan Lineberg (Alfred), 
Lucy Waldron, 
Flora Waldron, 
Ida Woloott Post (Henry), 
Henry C. Dwy. 

1871. 
Edna A. Spooner (Charles L.), 
Lillie Amelia Eaton, 
William G. Crosby, 
Mrs. William G. Crosby, 
Thompson Barton, 
Mrs. Edward Judd. 

1872. 
Flora E. Berry (Jerome), 
Hannah Jane Barton, 
Olive Fuller, 

Ella C. Smith (Charles S.), 
Mrs. Arthur Crosby, 
Mary W. Barton (Thompson), 
Mrs. Gordon, 
Hannah Austin (Edward). 

1873. 
Jennie Hatch (Barnabas), 
Lucretia Mosher Eaton, 
Ralph W. Bull, 
Sarah M. Bull (Ralph), 
Ruth Ann Bierce, 

Sarah Ann Bierce Lane (George L.), 
Hiram Stone, 
Mary I. Stone (Hiram), 
Cynthia Wakeman, 
Isabel Campbell. 

1874. 
Theresa Gibbs Carter (Buel), 
Mary F. Chase, 
Ann B. Hopson (George), 
Mary A. Hopson, 
Lemyra A. Swift Mills, 
Charles Chase. 

1875. 
John S. Greggs, 
Mary L. Greggs, 
Charles W. Chapin, 
Frank L. Benedict, 
Ralph Pratt, 



66 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



Lydia Ann Chaffee, 

Mary R. Barclay (Rev. T. D.). 

1876. 
Burritt Eaton, Jr., 
Sarah E. Gibbs St. John, 
Reuben M. Gibbs, 
Mary Ann Gibbs (M. C), 
Eugene W. Bull, 
Ernest D. Ward, 
Julia Hopson, 
Lucy Benson. 

1877. 
Alice Newton (George), 
Louise Mattie Freeman, 
Catherine Mills Hopson, 
Imogene Stuart. 

1878. 
Josie Dwye, 
Mattie Lee, 
Eveline Reed, 
Almira Robinson, 
Julia Bailey Eaton (Charles A.), 
Lizzie Fuller, 

Mary Johnson (Charles H.), 
Everett Barton, 
John Barton, 
Henry Barton, 
Burritt Eatoni, 
William H. Stuart, 
Jennie Stuart (William H.), 
Carrie J. Hatch Marsh, 
Ellen F. Gaylord (Charles), 
Adele B. Willard Leonard, 
Mary Ann Gibbs, 
Roxanna Brooks Gibbs, 
Almira Ives, 
George Newton, 
Edward Cook. 

1880. 
Emma M. Gibbs, 
Louise Gibbs. 

1881. 
Mary E. Benedict Allen (Henry), 
Helen S. Straight. 

1882. 
Caroline Lyman (Charles R.), 
Alfred B. Hall, 
Ariminta V. Hall, 
Melinda B. Stuart, 
Ann Eliza Stuart, 



John W. Lane, 

Adaline Lane (John W.), 

George R. Bull, 

Margaret M. Bull (George R.), 

William H. Bump. 

1883. 
Susan Leonard (Jerome), 
Reuben Eaton, 
Bertha Waldron, 
Almeda Lane Edwards (Charles). 

1884. 
Barbara L. Carhart, 
Walter B. Hatch, 
Mary B. Hatch, 
Rev. Elbert S. Porter, Jr., 
Julia M. Bull (Eugene W.), 
William Russell Leonard, 
Catharine J. Barnum, 
Lucy Murphy, 
Florence Barton Payne. 

1885. 
Burton Leonard, 
William A. Benson, 
Prank S. Peet, 
Joseph Barton, 
Prank L. Newton, 
Sherman Barton, 
Anna Hall Peet (Prank S.), 
Carrie Ives, 
Eudora Sarles Piatt, 
Etta Waldron Miller, 
Prances Waldron, 
Gertrude Skiff Swift (S. R.), 
Julia Barker Roberts (A. Watts), 
Rose Thorp, 
Ellen F. Monroe Camp, 
Sarah D. Ward, 
Fred E. Daine, 

Lillie Ives Waldron (Samuel), 
Mrs. G. H. Yutzler, 
Cora Newton Soule (Millard), 
Emma Waldron Patterson, 
Adelaide Waldron, 
Isabel Burnhaunce, 
Cassius M. Carter, 
Wilhelmina Barton, 
Cornelia Barker (James), 
Elsie Crane Porter (Rev. E. S.), 
Ida F. Lee (Charles), 
Lillian Ruth Newton Kirk (Charles), 
Charles F. Kirk. 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



67 



1889. 
Julia E. Ingersol (Jared), 
Benjamin M. Wright. 

1890. 
Susan M. Roberts (John L.), 
Helen Roraback (John), 
Nellie Bolles Vincent, 
Randolph EYisbie, 
Mabel B. Frisbie (Randolph), 
Harry Sterry, 

Mary Ida King Newton (Frank L.), 
Sarah B. Joray, 

Louise Dineberg Soule (John E.), 
Martha Lane Sprague (Clifford), 
Mary Newton Peet (Ralph), 
Ruth Ann Bennett Eaton (Russell), 
Flora Roraback Ryan, 
Mattie St. Jo'hn, 

189L 
Mary Bennett, 
Helen Barclay, 
Fannie Hatch, 
Jennie Clark Phillips, 
Charles R. Johnson, 
William Wolcott, 
Mary J. Wolcott (William), 
Ferdinand Steiry, 
Annette Chamberlain, 
Nellie S. Chamberlain Hatch (Cal- 
vin D.), 
Harriet E. Frink, 
Lilly Waldron Wolcott (Oliver), 
Julius Snow, 
Mrs. Julius Snow, 
Emily J. Wright (Rev. B. M.), 
Anna M. Gilbert (F^ed H.). 

1892. 
Albert L. Tuttle, 
Laura S. Tuttle (A. L.), 
Frederick White Barclay, 



Watson Andrews Barker, 
Caroline Britton Berry, 
Margaret Pratt Berry. 

1893. 
Wilbur S. Peck, 
Frank L. Newton, 
C. Fred Coester, 
Lillian W. Coester (C. Fred), 
Clarissa Darling, 
Carrie Hatch Newton, 
Mattie Aura Newton, 
Florence J. Mosher, 
Henry T. Mosher, ' 
Alice E. Mosher, 
Winifred Gregory, 
Adeline L. Lane, 
Gertrude E. Chase. 

1894. 
Arthur W. Smith, 
Edward I. Smith, 
William C. Smith, 
Elvira R. Austin, 
Mary E. Austin, 

Virginia Bronson Barton (Sherman), 
Edith Segar (Clinton), 
Kate Eaton (Burritt), 
Caroline L. Bull, 
Edith M. Bull, 
Lucy E. Hall. 

1895. 
Arthur W. Griswold, 
Rose D. Griswold (A. W.), 
Earl R. Eaton, 
Alice B. Eaton, 
Edith R. St. John, 
Edith L. Gilbert, 

Ella L. Mansfield Vincent (Gilbert A.), 
Lelia A. Welch. 

1896. 
Lewis G. Spooner. 



ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

St. Andrew's Episcopal church of Kent is the result of the missionary 
labors of Rev. Solomon Palmer, who for fourteen years was a Congrega- 
tional minister at Cornwall, but who in 1754 identified himself with the 
Episcopal denomination and as one of the twelve missionaries at work in 
Connecticut for the "Society for the Propogation of the Gospel" had charge 
of the missions of Litchfield county.* He went to England for ordination and 



* From an historical sermon by Rev. Albion Richey. Aug. 23, i8q5. 



68 HISTORY OF KENT. 

on his return took up his ahode at New Milford. He extended his labors to 
New York and Massachusetts. After five years he removed to the town of 
Litchfield, thence to New Haven in 1762. He returned to Litchfield in 1766 
where he died five years later in 1771. He is described as one of the most 
famous of the early missionaries, full of good works and labors of love. 
It is from a letter of his to the society under which he labored that the 
first date is obtained in connection with the church in Kent, though a Mr. 
Buttner, a Moravian missionary, is supposed to have preached to the Indians 
at Scatacook some time prior to this letter, which is dated 1760, and giving 
a report of his society, in which he says: "Subscriptions are raising for the 
building of a church in Kent, which they design to forward as fast as they 
can at a place convenient for about fifty families to meet from several 
towns. These were not times when the distance could be traveled in easy 
wagons but when the journey was made the parents upon one horse and 
children upon another. 

While Mr. Palmer was in New Haven it is supposed that his place was 
taken by Rev. Thomas Davies, but on the other hand it is claimed that the 
latter preached in Kent before Mr. Palmer, as a missionary from the Eng- 
lish society for the propogation of the gospel in foreign parts. At any rate 
there is not much known of his work. He died quite young in 1765. 

The next rector was Samuel Clark, who went to New Milford in 1768. 
He was a native of West Haven and a graduate of Yale college. Under him 
the first real attempts at organization were made. They are upon the parish 
register two very old documents of his day; they are the earliest records 
the parish now possesses. The first of these papers is dated at New Milford 
February 7, 1770; it is a receipt to Reuben Swift for his ministerial (church 
tax) for the year 1769. The second is dated Dec. 2, 1771, and shows that 
occasional services were being kept. It is a notice of Mr. Clark's intention 
to preach in Kent the coming Sunday. It was owing to the co-operation 
of this worthy layman, Reuben Swift, that the church for which Mr. Pal- 
mer began to gather subscriptions in 1760, was finally built in 1772 or early 
in 1773. Mr. Swift lived just to see it finished as he died the same year. 
This ancient building stood about thirty yards to the south of the present 
church. It was afterwards converted into a town hall, and still later the 
frame was used for a barn, now the property of George Hopson. 

Mr. Clark remained at his post until 1787 when he migrated to Nova 
Scotia. The years 1768-87 covered by Mr. Clark's ministry were dark days 
for the church in America. The nearest bishop was 3,000 miles across the 
Atlantic. It was not until 1785 that a bishop set foot upon these shores. 
Besides the want of a bishop there were other hardships to bear. The 
church was small in numbers; she was hated and despised by the multi- 
tude who regarded Episcopacy as hostile to civil as well as religious lib- 
erty. When the war really broke out many of the clergy had to fiee, others 
were persecuted and imprisoned, churches were closed, many of them dese- 
crated and defiled by the mob. 

In 1790 Rev. Truman Marsh was stationed at New Milford and remain- 
ed for nine years, and it is probable he looked after the church in Kent. 
In February, 1808, the parish was duly organized according to the state 
laws, the first officers being Lewis St. John, clerk; Reuben Booth, modera- 
tor; John Smith, treasurer. In May following Rev. Sturgis Gilbert was of- 
fered $6 to preach every third Sunday during the summer. May 4, 1809, a 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



69 



meeting was called to see whether the society would adopt the constitution 
of the church in America as set forth by general convention. From 1808 to 
1816 yearly meetings were held on the gi'eat plain of Kent as it was then 
called. In the latter year the old church was renovated. In September Mr. 
Gilbert was released from his contract. The records are broken from here 
until 1819, when in April of that year at the annual meeting the committee 
of the church were authorized to lay out the present subscriptions lately ob- 
tained in hiring, as it was said. Rev. George B. Andrews to officiate as 
clergyman. Under him the old church which had been built nearly fifty- 
two years in 1820 was consecrated. Mr. Andrews immediately afterward set 
to work to build the present edifice. On September 30, 1822, a meeting was 
called to adopt plans for building. Jeremiah Fuller, John H. Swift, Garrett 
Winegar, Alpheus Fuller, and John Hurd, were chosen as a building commit- 
tee. The original papers, contracts, etc., are still preserved. Various sub- 
scription papers tell of the struggles of the faithful few to get the church 
built. Those who had no money to give gave of their goods, timber, stone, 
brick, or lime, anything in short, that would prove available as building, 




ST. Andrew's episcopal church and soldiers' monument. 

some gave even the labor of their hands. At length after five years the 
church was built and in 1827 was consecrated by Bishop Brownwell. This 
was the fourth church erected by this worthy rector. Churches were built 
at Sharon, Salisbury and New Preston; to these doubtless he gave largely 
of his own means as he did to Kent. Mr. Andrews remained until 1829. 
His death occui*red in the diocese of New York not far from the state line of 
Connecticut. 

For the next fourteen years the records afford no positive information. 
It is presumed that Rev. Mr. Sterling, Rev. George L. Foote, and Rev. Mr. 
Fash, who had charge of Canaan, filled the pulpit. 

In March, 1847, Rev. Wm. Atwill was called to the parish in conection 
with the work at North Canaan. He remained until 1850 when he removed 
to New York. In his day a Sunday school fiourished in G^er Mountain un- 
der the care of Milo Geer. During the following vacancy the supplies were 
Rev. Hiram Jelluf, Rev. Mr. Schroder of New Milford and Rev. William 
Reynolds. 



7° 



HISTORY OF KENT. 



During part of 1851 and 1852 Rev. A. G. Shears was in cliarge of the 
parish. From 1852 to 1854 Rev. Ezra Jones officiated one-half the time. 
Extensive repairs were made to th^ church under him. On the 14th of 
May, 1854, the first rector was called— Rev. H. S. Atwater. For two years 
services were held every Sunday. Then North Canaan was also supplied by 
him so that for the next two years he was in Kent the best part of the 
time. The church was repaired again in 1861. Mr. Atwater resigned in 
1864 and moved to Bethany. 

Rev. Wm. H. Williams came next. He resigned in 1865 and went to 
England. In 1867 Rev. Alanson Welton followed, staying two years. In 
1871 and until 1877 Rev. Elisha Whittlesey was in charge. 

In 1872 the church was enlarged, greatly improved and a new organ 
added, the donation of Mrs. Myra A. Wheeler, of New York, whose father, 
John M. Raymond, was one of Kent's most respected citizens. The centennial 
festival occui-red in June, 1876, under the auspices of R. G. Fuller, W. Wat- 
son, W. Geer. Mrs. O. R. Camp, Miss A. W. Knapp, Miss M. L. Fuller, com- 
mittee. The autographs of those present were placed in the records of the 
town to be read one hundred years later. 

The next rector was Rev. I. C. Sturgis who took the first steps for the 
endowment of the parish, also the securing of a burial plot, and the build- 
ing of the present rectory, which was first occupied by Rev. Albion Richey, 
who resigned in 1885 and was succeeded by Rev. George Griffith. From 
1888 to Easter Sunday, 1895, Rev. W. F. Bielby presided. The present rec- 
tor is Rev. Howard McDougal. 

M. E. CHURCH AT GAYLORDSVILLE. 

Many of the people in the southern part of the town are connected with 
the Methodist Episcopal church in Gaylordsville, and that church must not 
be overlooked in enumerating the religious forces of the town. For many 
years it has maintained regular preaching services at Ore Hill and Bulls 
Bridge. Situated at the Center, as the churches are, there are many who 
find it difl[icult to reach them, and the neighborhood Sunday schools at 
South Kent, Bulls Bridge, Macedonia, and North Kent have been, and are, 
of inestimable value. 

Mention should here be made of Rev. Wm. H. Kirk, a consecrated Re- 
formed Methodist minister, who was for fifty-one years a resident of the 
town of Kent. He was born of Scottish parentage in Springfield, Vermont, 
March 24, 1824. His mother was a lineal descendant of Robert Bruce, the em- 
inent Scottish chief, and a daughter of Rev. Rufus Bruce of Chester, Ver- 
mont. Mr. Kirk was converted to Christ at the age of ten years, and for 
sixty-one years was a devout Christian. He edited for several years the de- 
nominational paper of his church, which was published under the name of 
"The Banner and Banquet." His church granted him license as an exhorter 
at the age of seventeen years and in 1844, at a sitting of the Vermont an- 
nual conference of the Reformed Methodist church he was ordained an elder 
in said church, which office he held until his death on February 19, 1896, at 
Kent. He was always under appointment by his conference as pastor, visit- 
ing elder or evangelist, in which capacity he laboured faithfully and success- 
fully in different states in the Union. Mr. Kirk was an anti-slavery man 
during the days of slavery, and was one of the only three men in the town 



HISTORY OF KENT. 7 1 

of Kent to vote the anti-slavery ticket when that ticket was first presented 
to the people, the other two being the late Rev. Jeremiah Fry and the late 
Deacon Lewis Spooner. He thereafter voted with the Republican party un- 
til the excitement of war times began to subside when it was discovered that 
the greatest foe to our race was the liquor traffic. Accordingly, he identified 
himself with the Prohibition party. Possessing great strength of char- 
acter and independence of thought, he was never misimderstood as to his 
sentiments. He was the champion of every cause and measure that tended 
to suppress vice and exalt virtue. Sympathetic and kind towards the suffer- 
ing and distressed, he was often called to comfoi-t bereaved ones in officiat- 
ing at funerals until he had attended one thousand during his ministry He 
took a Christian interest in the welfare of the Scatacook Indians and 
many of them, under his influence became Christians. The oldest remaining 
members of the tribe declare him to have been the first person to visit their 
reservation and tell them they "had souls and might have a Saviour." 
January 12, 1845, he was married to Miss Maria Houghton of Pownall. 
Vermont. Their three children were: Sarah A., wife of Edward Eaton, of 
Warren; Laura J., wife of Edward Thorpe, and a resident of Danvers, Mass., 
and Charles F., whoi married Miss Lillian Newton, and resides in Kent. 

While of a social nature, of Mr. Kirk it could be truly said he feared God, 
and feared nothing else but sin. Eminently successful as a revivalist, many 
of the members of different churches in and around Kent were converted 
under his labors and teaching. For a period of more than three years pre- 
vious to his death he was an invalid, suffering from a partial paralysis and 
other diseases. 



The Catholic denomination, though not very strong in Kent, have a 
church of their own, which is presided over by a priest from the neighboring 
town of Sharon. 




CATHOLIC CHURCH. 




HENRY HARRIS, LAST OF THE SCATACOOKS. 



INDEX. 



175 



Sitoinie, Levi W 55, 63, 99 

Stone, Lucy 63 

Stome, Mary 60, 65 

Sitome, Mary Ann 62 

Stone, Mary 1 65 

Sto-ne, Mrs. Levi 63 

Stome, Mrs. Russell 62, 63 

Stone, Nancy 63 

Stone, Rebecca 63 

Stone, Russell 114 

Stooe. Samuel Wildman 63 

Stone, Sopihia Fuller 60 

Stowe, H 46 

Stoiwe, Vivant 45 

Straight, John 100 

Straight, Helen 100 

Straight, Helen S 66 

Straiglit, Henry C 40, 43, 60 

Str'aight, Mrs. Hemry C 60 

Strong, Ebenezer 21 

Strong, Julian 20 

Stroog, Philip 21, 25, 32 

Stuart, Abby 62 ' 

Stuart, Alonzo 42, 132 

Stuart, Ann Eliza 66 

Stuart, Anne 132 

Stuart, Chapman Hamiltoin ..131, 132 

Stuart, Ohas 131, 132 

Stuart, C'has. James Stephen 

129, 130, 131, 132 

Stuart. Edgar J 42 

Stua.rt, Elizatoelth 132 

Stuart, Emily 132 

Stuart, Fred'k 46 

Stuart, Henry 132 

Stuart. Herman 46 

Stuart, Hermon 132 

Stuart, Homer 131, 132 

Stuart, Imogene 66 

Stuart, Irene 132 

Stuart, James 23, 56, 58, 65, 91 

Stuart, Jeinnie 66 

Stuart, Jolhn L 114 

Stuart, Luke 59 

Stuart, iMarietta 132 

Stuart, Mary 132 

Stuart, Melinda B 66 

Stuart, Mr.s. J 58 

Stuart, Nathan 58 

Stuart, Sara - 58 

Stuart. Silas 32, 59 

Stuart, Mrs. Silas 59 

Stuart, Sitephen 3? 

Stuart, Wm. H 66 

Sturdevant, Peleg 26, 35 

Sturdevant, Perez 26, 33 

Sturgis, Rev, I. C 70 

Sturtevant, Fear 57 

Sturtevant, Harriet 61 

Sturt-evant, Jerusha 62 

Sturteva/nt, Neihemiah 57 

Sucoamux, David 37 

Sncknuck, Job 77 

Summers, Hiram 33 

Swetland, Wm 20, 21 



Swift, Abigail 57 

Swift, Elislia 77 113 

Swift, Gertrude Skiff ' . 66 

Swift, Grace gi 

Swift, 1 24,' 61 

Swift, Jabez 19, 20, 21, 57, 58, 113 

Swift, Jeriah 37 

Swift, Jira 53 

Swift, John 19 n 4 

Swift, John H .' . 69 

Swan, Levi 32 

Swift, Lo'demia 60 

Swift, Moses 19, 20 

Swift, Naithaniel 24* 30 

Swift, Philotus ! 37 

Swift, Reuben 24 68 77 

Swift, Rev. E. G '. . . ' 55 

Swift, Rev. Eliisha P 55 

Swift, Rev. Job 55 53 

Swift. Rev. Seth '. 55 

Siwift, SaraJi 53 

Swift, Seth 58 

Swift, Zephania 17, 18, 19, 21, 52 

Tanner, Ebenezer ....'...' 37 

Tanner, Ephin 32 

Tanner, H'annalh 58 

Tanner, Wm 33 

Taylor, Oaroliine 62 

Taylor, David 32 

Taylor, Elias [ 37 

Taylor, Jna 32 

Taylor, Job 32 

Taylor, Reuben 32, 33 

Taylor, Rev. Naithianiel '. 21 

Teneyck, Wm. H 45 

Terrills, Nathan 114 

Terwillegqr, Emma J 141 

Thayer, David 35 

Thayer, Ehenezer 44 

Thayer, .Tames S 41 

Themberry. Josep'h 19 

Thomas, Anna 58 

Thomas. Anne 57 

Thomais, Josiafh 19, 20, 24, 57 

Thomas, Mary .' 57 

Thomas, Theodore 65 

T'hoimpkius, Benjamin 143 

Thompkins, Laura H 143 

Thomipson. Daniel 46, 56. 59 

Thomnson, Henry J 43 

Thompson, Lydia 59 

Thompson, Mrs. Eli 58 

Tliomipson, Sarah 56 

Thiomp'son, Wm. H 43 

Thomson, Comfort ^7 

Thomson. Daniel 24 

Tho'mson, Eliezer 59 

Thomson, Eieazer 21 

Thomson, Sarah Jr 56 

Thorp, Horace M 42 

Thorp, Roise 66 

Thorpe, Edward 71 

Thorpe. Laura J 71 

Tibbals, Na-tlhan 25 



176 



INDEX. 



Tobey, Sopbronia 146 

Tobias, Jo'bn Frobin 86 

Tobias, Stephen 86 

Tobin, DaA'is 154 

Tozer, Thomas 17, 18 

Tracy, Silas 21 

Trap, Wm 5 32 

Turriil, Abel •^IBl 

Tuttle, Albert L 67 

Tutble, Daiura S ■ 67 

Tyler, Edward 32 

Tyler, P'hioebe 64 

Underwiood, Dorcais 60 

Unsoo, Deoniard 101 

Vinoent, David 64, 114 

Vincent, Ella L. Mansfield 67 

Vincent, Helen 64 

Vincent, Nellie Bolles 67 

Voroe, Rev. J. H 55 

Vrandenburg, Fannie E 65 

Wafcemam, Cyntlhia 65 

Walden, Joihn 19, 20 

Waldron, Adelaide 66 

"Waldron, Bertha 66 

Waldron, Elias 65 

Waldron, Floria 65 

Waldron, Frances 66 

Waldron, Frank B 39 

Waldron, Frederick E 46 

Waldron, Julia 65 

Waldron, Li Hie Ives 66 

Waldron, Lucy 65 

Waldron, Mary J 65 

Walker, Benj 46 

Walker, C'has 129 

Walker, David 33 

Walker, Isaac 129 

Walker, Joanna 57 

Walker, MeOiitiable 149 

Walker, Robt 81 

Walker, Samuel 57 

Wallig. J 24 

Walling, Cbarlottie Francis 64 

Walling, G-eo. W 65 

Walling, James 57 

Walling, Maj-ia Lfonisa 64 

Walling, Simeon M 44 

Waller, Peter 35 

Walsh, Rev. John T 153 

Walter, Elizabeth 58 

Ward, Ernest 66 

Ward, Jolhn W 41 

Ward, Saralh D 66 

Warmer, Abralham 17, 18 

Warner, Ira 42 

Warner, Israel 58 

Warner, Jacob 17 

Warner, Joihn 81 

Warner, Mrs 58 

Warner, Seth 34 

Warner, Solomon 33 

Warren, John 34, 36 

AA^'armps, Thom'a.s 77 

Wasbborn, E 24 

Washburn, Paitienoe 57 



Wateirmian, Mrs 59 

Waters, Eilibu 36 

Watision, Robt 26, 76 

Watsion, W 70 

Wauser, Abraham 21 

Webber, Louisa 59 

Wedge, Asahel 32 

Wedge, Geo 43 / 

Wedge. Isaac 32 

Wedge, John 33 

Wedge, Wm 25 

Welch, Lelia A 67 

Welch, Paul 20, 21 

Welsh, Homer iM 39, 46, 47 

Welton, Rev. Alanson 70 

West, Bbenezer 15, 16 

Wheeler, Mrs. Myra A 70 

Wheeler, Nathian 37 

Whiite, Jolhn 42 

Whitehead, David 37 

Whittlesey, Capt. Eliplhlet 113 

Whittlesey, Joseph 21 

Wbittlesey, Rev. Elisha ... 54, 55, 70 

Wilcox, Josep'h 94 

Wildman, Hiram J 102 

Willard, Ella C 146 

Williams, Albent G 46 

Wiliiams, Eiisha 17, 18, 21 

Williams, Geo. S 40 

Williams, Jobn 58 

Williams, Luania 61 

Williams, Rev. Wm. H 70 

Wilson, Jobn 139 

Wilson, Eliza 139 

Wilson, Sairah 139 

Wilson, Widow 61 

Winegar, Allen G 43, 98* 

Wincigar, Anson 99* 

Winegar, Beecher 99-.^ 

Winegar, Cbloe 62"* 

Winegair, Giarrett 69^ 114 ■*" 

Winegar, Linus 98, 114 

Winegar, Norman 98 " 

Winegar, Zachariah 99* - 

Wolcott, Lilly Waldron 67 

Wolcott, Mary J 67 

Woiloott, Oliver 31 

Wolcott, Wm 67 

Wrexfoird, Daniel 58 

Wrig'ht, Abel 17, 18, 21, 49, 56 

Wrig'ht, Beniamin M 67 

Wright, Emily J 67 

Wrig'ht, Mary 56 

WrigM, Rev. Benj. M 49, 55 

Wood, Pboebe 134 

Wood, Stepben 45 

Woodward, Joanna 57 

Woodward, Thos 57 

Woioster, Joseph 81 

Young, Lewis S 43 

Youngs, Melissa 63 

Yutzler, Mrs. G. H 66 

Zerniab, Ruth 57 

Zernialh, Thankful 57 



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